F 

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Class _ . 
Book_ 



COPYRIGHT 15EP0SIT 



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J(J^E, I §5 7^ 



PRr-E FIFTY CEMT'S, 



COPYRIGHT, 1897. BY FERRIS PUBLISHING COMPANY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 



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ic mum 



AN ILLUSTRATED 



HAND-BOOK t- 



I ™i> SOUVENIR 



FULLY DESCRIBING AND ILLUSTRATING 

ALL 5UMMEK RLSORT LOCALITIES 

IN THE ENTIRE REGION, ^ 

LOWLAND OR HIGHLAND. 

VJ^. > 

With Routes of Approach, Tables of Rates and Time Tables 

OF Various Transportation Companies, and Giving 

Detailed Information Concerning Every 

Matter of Interest to the 

Summer Tourist. 



PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED IN HALF-TONE. 



PRICE. 50 CENTS. 



PUBLISHED AND FOR SALE BY FERRIS PUBLICATION CO., KINGSTON N. Y 



Y^\r 



44-|:4»#4'4'*#*4=* THE FAMOUS TRUNK 

NIAGARA 



LINE ROUTE 



FALLS 
ROUTE. 



PASSING AS IT DOES 
ALONG THE WEST SHORE 

OF THE ' 

Hudson Riv3r, 

AND THROUGH THE 
PICTURESQUE 

MohavA/k Valley, 



IS THE POPULAR 



Mc6t Sborc IRatlroab* 



THE ONLY LINE RUNNING 

WAGNER BUTFET PALACE SLEEPING CARS 

-BETWEEN 

NEW YORK AND TORONTO 

WITHOUT CHANGE. 

The Only All Rail Route and Through Drawing Room Car Line 

TO AND FROM THE 

CATSKILL MOUNTAINS. 

Through Trains, Dravring Room Cars Attached, are run during the Summer Season 

Between NEW YORK AND NEW PALTZ 
FOR LAKES MOHONK AND MINNEWASKA. 

DRAWING ROOM CARS, WITHOUT CHANGE, BETWEEN 

NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA AND BLOOMVILLE, 

AND HKTWEEN 

WASHINGTON, BALTIMORE, PHILADELPHIA, LONG BRANCH, POINT 
PLEASANT, NEW YORK and SARATOGA and LAKE GEORGE 



FAST EXPRESS TRAINS, WITH ELEGANT PALACE and SLEEPING CARS 

BETWEEN 

New York, Boston, Newhurgh, Kingston, Catskil], Albany, Saratoga, Montreal, 

Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Hamilton, London, 

Toronto, Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago and St. Louis, without change. 



For Tickets, Time Tables, and full information, apply to any Ticket Agent, West Shore Railroad 

or address, 

C. E. LAMBERT, Gen'l Pass. Agt., 5 Vanderbilt Ave., New York. 






^#^ 



Chapter PaGE, 

I--The Catskills 7 

II — Available Transportation Lines <j 

III— The Hudson River Day Line 11 

IV— Routes of Approach, (A Directory) 16 

V— Hints and Helps 23 

VI— The Western Catskills 25 

VII — Lakes Mohonk and Minnewaska 28 

VIII — Lake Aioskawasting- 32 

IX — West Hurley, Woodstock, Mead's, etc 33 

X— Olive Branch and Olive 39 

XI— Brown's Station 41 

XII — Brodhead's Bridg-e, Olive Bridge, etc 44 

XIII— Shokan and West Shokan 47 

XIV— Ascent of Hig-h Point 59 

XV— Boiceville 64 

XVI— Cold Brook 66 

.XVII— Mount Pleasant, Lake Hill, etc 67 

XVIII— Phoenicia, Woodland Valley 74 

XIX— Allaben and the Shandaken Valley 79 

XX — Shandaken, Bushnellville, etc 82 

XXI— Big- Indian, Slide Mountain, etc 88 

XXII— Pine Hill 93 

XXIII— Grand Hotel and High Mount 100 

XXIV— Fleischttiann's, Griffin's Corners, Halcott 102 

XXV— Arkville, Margaretville, etc 107 

XXVI— Kelly's Corners and Halcottville 113 

XXVII— Roxbury 115 

XXVIII— Grand Gorge and South Gilboa 117 

XXIX — Stamford, Jefferson, Davenport, etc 121 

XXX— Hobart 128 

XXXI— South Kortright, Almeda, Bloomville 130 

XXXII— The Stony Clove, Lanesville, Edgewood, etc 132 

XXXIII— The Catskill Plateau, The Eastern Group 128 

XXXIV — Hunter, Hensonville, Windham, Lexington, etc 140 

XXXV— Tannersville, Schoharie Manor, etc 158 

XXXVI— Haines's Corners, Twilight Park, etc 167 

XXXVII— Laurel House, Catskill Mtn. House, The Kaaterskill . 169 

XXXVIII— The Catskill Lowlands 172 

XXXIX— Catskill, Palenville, Cairo and Vicinity 173 



PPEPACI:. 



THIS Handbook of the Catskills is published with the inten- 
tion of supplying" accurate and detailed information concerning- 
every part of the Catskill Mountain reg^ion frequented by 
summer visitors. So far as the most thorough canvass vs^ould secure 
it, the location and g-eneral particulars of everv house offering- accom- 
dation to boarders will be found in its pag"es. No other book 
published does this, or makes any attempt to do it. 

The illustrations in this book are made direct from photog-raphs 
by the half-tone process. They are therefore accurate representations. 
A half-tone picture is made up of numberless dots, larg"er, or smaller, 
and should be held at such a distance from the eye that the dots are 
no long-er discernible, in order to g-et the photog-raphic effect. 

The absence of a map in this book is to be explained by the fact 
that there is no g-ood map of this reg"ion, nor even one approximately 
good, and it seems unwise to multiply errors in names and locations. 
A new map is being- made which will be both accurate and up to date, 
and arrang-ements have already been made for its appearance in next 
year's Handbook. 

Copyrighted 1897, by the Ferris Publication Company. All rights reserved. 



CHAPTER I. 

THE CATSKILLS. 

UCH has been written historically and poetically of the 
Catskills; — it is rather from the point of view of the practical 
' -L present that this chapter is written. 
The reg-ion of the Catskills, which comprises the outlying- low- 
lands as well as the actually elevated mountains and plateaus, has 
become the great pleasure and health resort of the nearer seaboard 
cities. The recommendations of physicians and health experts have 
taken the form that dwellers near the ocean, — or within the sixty 
mile belt along- the coast, within which the prevalent atmospheric 
influence is of the salt sea, — should take their outing- among- the 
mountains (and z'/ce versa) to secure the greatest benefit. This 
dictum has been accepted as rational and wise, but often without 
a complete and clear understanding-, for a hig-h altitude has been 
deemed necessary to gain the desired improvement in health, and, 
in some instances, this has seemed to be a mistake. Experience 
goes to show that altitude is not important except in certain peculiar 
cases, as thousands find refreshing- and revivifying- in the many 
lowland and valley resorts, the results being quite as marked, and 
as satisfactory, as on the mountain tops. 

There is this to be considered. The air upon the lowlands and 
in the valleys is of the same purity as upon the mountains, there 
being a constant ming-ling- through the continual stirring- up by the 
ceaseless winds. 

The water in the valleys is the same as on the mountains, with 
whatever advantage may be g-ained by more complete aeration in 
its travels over many cascades, rifts and rapids before it reaches the 
lower levels. 

Further, the slight increase in chest measure, as noted by physi- 
cians, in the hig-her altitudes, to accommodate an increased supply 
of the rarified air, has been found to disappear speedily on return to 
the home in the coast belt, leaving it an unsettled question whether 
any benefit whatever has resulted from the temporary expansion. 

On the other hand, it is now generally admitted that the benefi- 
cial results which are sought in a period of -rest from household cares 
in the Catskill region depend rather upon the change in environment 
and its mental effects, — the freeing of the mind from the pressure of 



8 THE CATSKILI.S. 

a routine of care, which is more or less a condition of slavery to cir- 
cumstances, and these bonds being- broken, if only for a brief period, 
the bodily rest and mental peace combine in lifting- to a hig-her plane 
of existence. 

Another arg-ument is broug-ht forward by the frequenters of the 
lowland resorts, especially those whose families spend the season in 
the Catskills, and whose visiting- with them is confined principally to 
Saturday evening-, Sunday, and the early hours of Monday morning-, 
and that is that the lowlands are reached in less time than the hig-her 
resorts, and therefore one has several more hours each week with his 
family. 

It is not intended to exalt the valleys above the mountains, 
metaphorically, by these arg-uments, but rather to show that, physi- 
cally, there is little to choose between; that one's taste may be 
consulted, without consideration of superior natural dispensations 
either way. It is simply a question of looking- up to the mountains, 
or looking- down from them. The hig-her altitudes are undeniably 
cooler, especially at nig-htfall, when the rarer air permits a much 
more rapid radiation of heat than in the valleys, producing- more 
sudden chang-es. While this would be a boon to some, to others it 
would bring g-reat discomfort. 

Geog-raphically, the Catskill Mountains are puzzling- even to 
scientific observers, and there are several theories advanced as to 
their orig-in, none of which is satisfying-. The theory of g-ravure by 
water and ice is not borne out by several obstinately adverse condi- 
tions, notably the stratification at the tops of the mountains where 
some quarries are worked. To the climber of many mountains, 
which is the only way to g-ain a comprehensive view of the whole, 
the idea of upheaval becomes irresistible, — and upheaval with sub- 
sequent modeling- by water and ice will account for nearly all the 
phenominal forms and arrang-ements to be found in the reg-ion. 
Special features are noticed locally throug^hout this book, but it may 
be in place here to remark upon the duplication of forms, which is 
very marked. From some standpoint or other nearly every peak of 
great size has its double in a smaller one near by. And it may be 
stated as a g-eneral fact, with few exceptions, that the slopes on the 
northerly sides of the mountains are long- and easy in g-rade, and on 
the southerly side are abrupt and steep, often precipitous. This fact 
alone would seem to oppose the water theory beyond possibility of 
explanation. 

The mountain section may be divided into the Eastern and 
Western g-roups, the first culminating- in Hunter Mountain, 4040 feet 
hig^h, and the second in Slide Mountain, 4205 feet hig-h. These two 
groups are joined at the Pine Hill Summit by a pass 1886 feet high. 



FERRIS S HANDBOOK. 



From this pass flows the Esopus southward and the Delaware north- 
ward, marking- the separation of the two groups. 

Smaller subdivisions are readily discovered, each separated from 
another by a larg-e brook. Small brooks and spring's abound through- 
out the region and afford a never wearying enjoyment in their motion 
and pleasant noises. 

The whole region appeals to the artistic sense. Less wild in 
feature than the Adirondacks, the Catskills are more homesome in 
feeling-. One is acquainted with them quickly and loves them long-. 
Here the grand and majestic bend to companionship with the quiet 
peace of the countryside, and the union is prolific of harmony. 

As a playground for those weary of the toilsome drudg-ery of 
daily life this reg-ion is ideal. Near to the cities whence we would 
flee, with a multitude of houses, accommodating from four to four 
hundred, one may choose his home to suit his taste for solitude, or 
society; his purse as to dollars, or double-eag-les; his preference as to 
meadow, or mountain. The widest variety is here with its vaunted 
spice, and easy and rapid communication enables the restless to fly 
from place to place at will. 

For the rest, the pag-es following will have to tell the story, bit 
by bit. 



CHAPTER II. 

AVAILABLE TRANSPOKTATIOX LINES. 

nnHE g-reat majority of visitors to the Catskills come by way of 
New York City. For their convenience the possibilities of 
transportation are here given, more detailed directions being- 
given in Chapter IV. 

The Hudson River Day Line, or "Albany Day Boats " as they 
are often called, is the most popular line, reaching- the western Cats- 
kills by way of the Kingston Point landing-, and the Eastern g-roup 
by the Catskill landing-. Steamers leave New York daily, except 
Siindaw at foot of Desbrosses street at 8.40 a. m. and foot of West 
22nd street at 9.00 a. m. Brooklyn passeng-ers take the annex boat 
from foot of Fulton street, which transfers them directly to the 
steamer at Desbrosses street. The annex boat leaves Brooklyn at 
8 o'clock a. m. 

The favorite route by rail is by the West Shore R. R. from Wee- 
hawken. Passengers leave New York by ferry at foot of West 42nd 



10 THE CATSKILLS. 

street, or down town at foot of Franklin street. Some trains leave 
the Pennsylvania R. R. depot in Jersey City with the throug-h cars 
from Philadelphia and other points south. These trains may be 
reached by Cortlandt street ferry or by the annex boat from Brooklyn. 
See West Shore R. R. time tables for time of leaving-. The West 
Shore trains transfer passengers, or through cars, at Kingston to the 
Ulster and Delaware R. R. for the western Catskills. Tourists for 
the Eastern group continue their journey to Catskill station and there 
transfer to the Catskill Mountain Railway. 

The New York Central and Hudson River Railroad affords an- 
other route. Trains leave Grand Central Depot at Fourth Avenue and 
42nd street. New York City, transferring passengers for the western 
Catskills at Rhinecliff, where they take the ferry for Rondout which 
lands them just across the street from the Ulster and Delaware R. R. 
depot. For the eastern Catskills passengers ride to the Catskill 
station, taking- ferry .to Catskill village and then take trains of Cats- 
kill Mountain Railway and Otis Elevating Railway. 

The Romer and Tremper steamboats leave New York City, foot 
of West 10th street, at 4 o'clock p. m. on all week-days but Saturday, 
when the time of leaving- is one o'clock. Passengers on these boats 
remain on board until morning-, if desired, taking- early morning- train 
on the Ulster and Delaware R. R. for the western Catskills. Or they 
may go to a hotel on the arrival of the boat at Rondout. 

The steamer Mary Powell leaves New York daily, Sundays ex- 
cepted, from Desbrosses street pier at 3.15 p. m., Saturdays 1.45 p. 
m., and from West 22nd street pier at 3.30 p. m., Saturdays 2 o'clock; 
arriving- at Rondout 8.30 p. m., Saturdays 7.25 p. m. Passeng-ers by 
this boat go to the hotels in Rondout or to Kingston (by trolley cars) 
for the night, taking- the morning- train for the mountains. 

For the eastern Catskills the Catskill Evening- Line Steamers are 
available for night travel, leaving New York City every week-day at 
6 o'clock p. m. from foot of Christopher street, and from West 133rd 
street at 6.30 p. m., reaching- Catskill early in the morning to connect 
with trains on the .Catskill Mountain Railway and Otis Elevating 
Railway-. 

FKOM ALBANY. 

From the north, by way of Albany, the Day Line Steamers leave 
Albany at 8.30 a. m. for Catskill landing- and the Eastern Catskills 
and for Kingston Point for the Western g^roup. 

The West Shore R. R. offers the most convenient railroad route 
for Catskill and Kingston with connections as described above. 

The New York Central and Hudson River R. R. is also available 
by way of Catskill Station and Rhinecliff as above described. 



FERRIS S HANDBOOK. 



11 



CHAPTER 



THE HUDSON RIVER DAY LINE. 



THE Hudson is one of the rivers of the world, individual in char- 
acter, distinct in feature, unique in history, — the worthy pride 
of the State of New York in which it has its fountain, winds 
its course for upward of three hundred miles, and at whose metro- 
polis, with stately flow, it pours its immensity of water into the un- 
satisfied sea. 

There is an influence intang-ible to human sense hovering about 
the Hudson, which has wrought a certain intensity into the lives of 
men in close contact with it, from the earliest historic times. The 
Indians who lived upon its banks were the noblest of the Red Men, 
and with its waters mingled the blood of Uncas, the last of the 
Mohicans, as he passed away defending his white friends against the 
ferocity of his own race. In the presence of the Hudson, poets break 
into rarer song, painters outdo themselves, njen of valor are doubly 
brave and earnest, liberty finds its purest examples and civilization 
its highest type. 

And shall we say that it is men who have made the Hudson 
great? Nay — but 
it is the Hudson 
that hath made 
its men great. 
We are not yet 
in touch with the 
spirit of the "in- 
animate" in na- 
ture, but the 
awakening is at 
hand and the next 
century will see 
it. 

Partaking of, 
and reflecting the 
magnificence of 
this great river, 
is the splendid 

enterprise of the Day Line, which has made this the highway 
far excellence to the Catskills, from either New York or Albany. 
Its immense steamers are the exponents of the summit of perfection 




ON THE DAY LINE. 



SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN. 



12 



THE CATSKILLS. 



reached by mechanical skill in every department, from the micro- 
metric accuracy of the mig-hty eng-ines, to the exquisite finish, and 
luxurious furnishing-s of the saloons and private parlors. Absolute 
safety, exceptional speed and eleg'ant comfort have been wroug-ht 
tog-ether within the most graceful lines, and the service and appoint- 
ments are unexcelled from the restaurants to the orchestras. In these 
noble vessels the ideal has become the real, and, with every detail 
harmonious, the trip up the Hudson is one of unmixed enjoyment. 
Passengers who reach New York, or Albany, in the early morning- 
may proceed directly to the steamer and will find the restaurants open 
at seven o'clock, prepared to serve breakfast. In New York the 
steamer will be found at the pier, foot of Desbrosses street. The 
demands of the "inner man"' being- satisfied, one is prepared to 
enjoy to the full the trip up the Hudson. 

The annex boat from Brooklyn soon comes into view and lands 
its passeng-ers directly on the Day Line steamer. Promptly at 8.40 
a. m. we leave the Desbrosses street pier and swing around to the 
north, bound for 22nd street, the favorite landing- for New Yorkers 
because of its convenience. There is always a large contingent to 
board the steamer at this point, and a lot of baggage to be 
shipped. The deck hands string themselves out in a long line with a 
trunk between each two, like a row of moving exclamation points 
with hyphens between, and the lading is done in a "jiffy." 

At nine o'clock we are off again. Ahead on the left, the great 
wall of the Palisades stand out in bold outline. Fort Lee at the 

nearer end. This 
stupendous cliff 
stretches for twen- 
ty miles along the 
western shore, the 
highest point be- 
ing nearly 600 feet 
above the water. 
On the right is 
the upper part of 
New York City, 
and we soon pass 
the mouth of the 
historical Spuyten 
Duyvil, the end of 
Manhattan Island. 
Half-way along 
the Palisades is 
Yonkers, on the right bank of the river, and here we make another 




ON THE DAY LINE. 



STORM KING. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 



13 



landing-, g-athering- more passengers, many of them for the delightful 
day excursions to West Point, or Newburgh, which are enjoyed by 
hundreds every pleasant day during the season. 

The lines are cast off and away we g-o again for a two hours' run 
without stopping. If the breeze is too strong for comfort, we may 
take refuge behind the polished plate glass of the saloons and enjoy 
a perfect view, the windows being large and so close together as to 
be practically a continuous sheet of glass. 

About five miles north of Yonkers we pass the boundary line 
between New York and New Jersey, and from this point onward both 
shores are of New York State. Another mile, or two, and the west- 
ern shore begins to trend away toward the northwest and the River 
widens into the Tappan Zee, a charming sheet of water about three 
miles in width and ten miles long, extending northward to Croton 
Point, which narrow " spit" separates it from the wider Haverstraw 
Bay lying just beyond. At Haverstraw the River is nearly five 
miles across. 

The shores now begin to grow upward into banks, and the 
banks into hills, which crowd closer and reach higher until the 
southern entrance 
to the world-fam- 
ous "Highlands 
of the Hudson " is 
reached at Peeks- 
kill, with Dunder- 
berg on the west 
and the Spitzen- 
berg" on the east. 
Just ahead on the 
plateau the snow- 
white tents mark 
the location of the 
State Camp where 
the State militia 
practice soldier}- 
out-doors. Round- 
ing Dunderberg 
we find Anthony's 

Nose demanding an equal recognition on the right. The beautiful 
lona Island lies near the west shore just opposite, and we look over 
it into the g-reat amphitheatre of the Bread Tray with its Revolution- 
ary history of bloody conflict. 

Turning northward again. Sugar Loaf Mountain appears on the 
right, its symmetrical pyramid rising from delightfully contrasting 




ON THE DAY LINE. 



STATE MILITARY CAMP. 



14 



THE CATSKILLS. 



base lines. West Point is now in sight ahead, pushing- out from tne 
western shore. The landing- is one of the most picturesque along- the 
river. Here we shall leave many of our fellow passeng-ers to roam 
about this interesting- spot for three hours, when the other steamer 
will stop for them on the return trip. 

The channel is narrowest at the Point, and there seems scarcely 
room to g-et throug-h. Turning- sharply we encounter Storm King- 
reaching- skyward 
1529 feet above 
the river. Across 
the water stands 
Breakneck Hill 
only 100 ft. lower. 
With these two 
mountains the 
Hig-hlands are 
ended and the 
river is widened 
as the shore re- 
cedes on the west, 
forming- New- 
burg-h Bay. 

A t Newburg-h 
the remainder of 
the day excur- 
sionists leave the 
steamer to spend 
nearly two hours 
before the down steamer reaches here, during- which time Washing-- 
ton's Headquarters will doubtless be visited. 

The next landing- is Poug-hkeepsie, and the country between 
constitutes a very important part of the Hudson River fruit belt. 
A^ineyards clothe the terraced banks and berry fields spread over the 
wide plateaus, and in the distance orchards are seen clambering-, as 
it were, up the hillsides. The g-reat bridg-e at Poug-hkeepsie arouses 
interest in a new dil-ection, and spice is added by the meeting- here 
with the down steamer. As the up steamer lands first, it is possible 
to make this city also the object of a day excursion, but with only 
a few minutes to wait. 

We had a distant g-limpse of the Catskills when entering- New- 
burg-h Bay; from now on they become more and more in evidence, 
and a few miles below King-ston, as we round a point on the western 
shore, the southernmost mountains form a g-rand array of blue peaks 
toward the northwest. 




ON THE DAY LINE. 



LANDING AT WEST POINT 



FEKRIS'S HANDBOOK. 



15 




The landing- at King-ston Point was completed last season, and 
the landing- at Rhinecliff with its ferry corollary was discontinued. 
At Kingston Point 
close connection is 
made with the Ul- 
ster and Delaware 
R. R., a waiting- 
train standing- just 
across the pier. 
Tourists for the 
western Catskills 
leave the steamer 
here and in a few 
minutes are being 
whirled up the cliffs 
of Rondout on their 
way to the heights. 
For fifteen miles 
the steamer forges 
on toward Catskill on the day line. landing at Kingston point. 
landing-, the moun- 
tains g-rowing- larg-er, and displaying their g-reat mass and noble 
height as we approach nearer, their outlines and pictorial arrang-e- 
ment chang-ing- with every mile, and when the landing is made we 
leave the steamer with reg-ret. At Catskill there is a g-eneral dis- 
embarking- of summer tourists bound for the resorts on the top of the 
mountain, from the Catskill Mountain house and the Kaaterskill 
Hotel all the way to Hunter and even Lexing-ton, or to the many 
"parks" which have done so much to make summer cottage life at- 
tractive, and to the wide expanse of country reached by way of Cairo 
which increases its population by thousands in the summer. But the 
steamer goes on, for its goal is Albany ; the memory of the trip 
remains, an enduring- pleasure, with no drawback ; so that the trip by 
the Day Line has come to mean the acme of comfort and pleasure to 
the tourist, and this explains the ever-increasing host which chooses 
this delightful route by water, and by daylight. 

Note.— For particular-^ of route to any desired point see chapter on "Routes 
and Approach." and for rates of fare see chapter on that subject. Time tables 
at the back of the book. 



FINE PHOTOGRAPHS of any of the views pictured in this 
book (and many others) for sale at prices noted on back cover pag-e. 

R. FERRIS, Artist Photographer, 

West Shokan, N. Y. 



16 THE CATSKILLS. 



CHAPTER IV. 



ROUTES OF APPROACH TO THE SUMMER RESORTS OF THE CATSKILLS. 

Note. — Where two routes, or more, are given, the first mentioned is con- 
sidered preferable. Through tickets may be had for most of the places men- 
tioned. For Rates of Fare see that chapter. The star (*) is explained at the 
end of this chapter. 

Acra, Greene Co. — To Cairo as directed; thence by stag-e 3 miles. 
*Allaben, Ulster Co. — Day Line steamers to Kingston Point, or West 

Shore R. R. to Kingston; thence by Ulster and Delaware R. R. 
Almeda, Delaware Co. — To South Kortrig-ht as directed; thence by 

private conveyance 1 mile. 
Andes, Delaware Co. — To Arkville as directed; thence by stage 12 

miles. 
Arena, Delaware Co. — To Arkville as directed; thence by stag-e 8 

miles. 
*Arkville, Delaware Co. — Day Line steamers to King^ston Point, or 

West Shore R. R. to Kingston; thence by Ulster and Delaware 

R. R. 
Ashland, Greene Co. — To Hunter as directed; thence by stag-e 12 

miles. Or to Cairo, and thence by stag-e 21 miles. 
Ashton, Ulster Co. — P. O. name at Olive Branch station, which see. 
Bates, Schohaire Co. — To Grand Gorg-e as directed, thence by private 

conveyance 15 miles. 
Beach's Corners, Greene Co. — To Hunter as directed, thence by stag-e 

3 miles. 
Bearsville, Ulster Co. — To West Hurley as directed, thence by stage 

7 miles. 
Beechford, Ulster Co. — P. O. name at Cold Brook station, which see. 
Big Hollow, Greene Co. — To Hunter as directed, thence by private 

conveyance 6 miles. 
*Big Indian, Ulster Co. — Day Line steamers to Kingston Point, or 

West Shore R. R. to Kingston; thence by Ulster and Delaware 

R. R. direct. 
*Bloomville, Delaware Co. — Day Line steamers to Kingston Point, or 

West Shore R. R. to Kingston; thence by Ulster and Delaware 

R. R. direct. 
*Boiceville, Ulster Co. — Day Line steamers to Kingston Point, or 

West Shore R. R. to Kingston; thence by Ulster and Delaware 

R. R. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 17 

Bovina Centre, Delaware Co. — To Bloomville as directed, thence by 

stag-e 6 miles. 
*Brodhead's Bridge, Ulster Co. — (Brodhead's P. O. ) Day Line 

steamers to King-ston Point, or West Shore R. R. to King-ston ; 

change to Ulster and Delaware R. R. to Brodhead's Bridge. 
Broome Centre, Schoharie Co. — To Grand Gorg-e as directed ; thence 

by private conveyance 12 miles. 
Brushland, Delaware Co. — To Arkville as directed; thence by private 

conveyance 12 miles. 
*Brown's Station, Ulster Co. — Day Line steamers to King-ston Point, 

or West Shore R. R. to Kingston ; change to Ulster and Delaware 

R. R. to station. 
Bushnellville, Greene Co. — To Shadaken as directed ; thence by 

stag-e 3 miles. 
Cabin Hill, Delaware Co. — To Arena as directed ; thence by private 

conveyance 7 miles. 
Cairo, Greene Co. — To Catskill as directed ; chang^e to Catskill Moun- 
tain Railway to Cairo. 
Catskill, Greene Co. — Day Line steamers, or West Shore R. R., or 

Catskill Nig-ht Line of steamers, or New York Central R. R. to 

Catskill station and thence by ferry. 
Catskill Mountain House, Greene Co. — To Otis Summit as directed ; 

thence by private conveyance 100 yards. 
Chichesters, Ulster Co. — To Phoenicia as directed ; change to Stony 

Clove and C. M. R. R. to station. 
Conesville, Schoharie Co. — To Grand Gorge as directed ; thence by 

private conveyance 9 miles. 
Cooksburg-h, Albany Co. — To Cairo as directed ; thence by stage 12 

miles. 
Cornwallsville, Greene Co. — To Cairo as directed ; thence by private 

conveyance 20 miles. 
Davenport, Delaware Co. — To Stamford as directed ; thence by stage 

10 miles. 
Davenport Centre, Delaware Co.— To Stamford as directed ; thence by 

stage 14 miles. 
Delhi, Delaware Co. — To Bloomville as directed ; thence by stage 8 

miles. Or to Arkville, and thence by stag-e 16 miles. 
Downsville, Delaware Co.— To Arkville as directed ; thence by stag-e 

26 miles. 
Dry Brook, Ulster Co.— To Arkville as directed ; thence by stag-e 4 

miles. 
Dunraven, Delaware Co.— To Arkville as directed ; thence by stage 5 

miles. 
Durham, Greene Co.— To Cairo as directed ; thence by stage 12 miles. 



18 THE CATSKILLS. 

East Davenport, Delaware Co.— To Stamford as directed; thence by 

stage 10 miles. 
East Durham, Greene Co.— To Cairo as directed; thence by stage 7 

miles. 
East Jewett, Greene Co.— To Hunter as directed; thence by private 

conveyance 3 miles. 
East Meredith, Delaware Co.— To Bloomville as directed; thence by 

private conveyance 10 miles. 
East Windham, Greene Co.— To Cairo as directed; thence by stage 

10 miles. 
Edg-ewood, Greene Co. — To Phoenicia as directed; thence by Stony 

Clove & C. M. R. R. direct. 
Eminence, Schoharie Co. — To Stamford as directed; thence by private 

conveyance 10 miles. 
Fergusonville, Delaware Co. — To Stamford as directed; thence by 

private conveyance 14 miles. 
Freehold, Greene Co. — To Cairo as directed; thence by stage 5 miles. 
*Fleischmann's Delaware Co. — Day Line steamers to Kingston 

Point, or West Shore R. R. to Kingston; thence by Ulster and 

Delaware R. R. 
Gayhead, Greene Co. — To Cairo as directed; thence by private con- 
veyance 3^2 miles. 
Gilboa, Schoharie Co. — To Grand Gorge as directed; thence by stage 

4 1^2 miles. 
Glenford, Ulster Co. — To Olive Branch as directed; thence by private 

conveyance 2 miles, or to West Hurley and thence by stage 4 miles. 
*Grand Gorge, Delaware Co. — Day Line steamers to Kingston Point, 

or West Shore R. R. to Kingston; thence by Ulster and Dela- 
ware R. R. 
*Grand Hotel, Ulster Co. — Day Line steamers to Kingston Point, or 

West Shore R. R. to Kingston; thence by LTlster and Delaware 

R. R. to Grand Hotel station. 
Grants Mills, Delaware Co. — To Arkville as directed; thence by 

private conveyance 10 miles.. 
Greenville, Greene Co. — To Cairo as directed; thence by private con- 
veyance 8 miles. 
Griffin's Corners, Delaware Co. — To Fleischmann's as directed; 

thence by private conveyance 1 mile. 
Haines's Falls, Greene Co. (or Haines's Corners) — To Catskill as 
directed; change to Catskill Mtn. Ry. to Otis Junction; thence 
by Otis Elevating Ry. to Otis Summit; thence by Kaaterskill R. 
R. direct. May also be reached from Phoenicia (which see) by 
Stony Clove and C. M. R. R. to Kaaterskill Junction; thence by 
Kaaterskill R. R. direct. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 19 

Halcott Centre, Greene Co. — To Fleischmann's as directed; thence 

by private conveyance 4 miles. 
*Halcottville, Delaware Co. — Day Line steamers to King-ston Point, 
or West Shore R. R. to King-ston; thence by Ulster and Dela- 
ware R. R. direct. 
Harpersfield, Delaware Co. — To Stamford as directed; thence by stag-e 

AYz miles. 
Hensonville, Greene Co. — To Hunter as directed; thence by stage 

7 miles. 
*Highmount, Ulster Co. — ^To Grand Hotel station as directed; thence 

by stag-e 1 mile. 
*Hobart, Delaware Co. — Day Line steamers to Kingston Point, or 
West Shore R. R. to Kingston; thence by Ulster and Delaware 
R. R. direct. 
*Hunter, Greene Co. — Day Line steamers to Kingston Point, or West 
Shore R. R. to Kingston; thence by Ulster and Delaware R. R 
to Phoenicia; thence by Stony Clove and C. M. R. R. direct. Or 
proceed to Tannersville as directed and thence by Kaaterskill 
R. R. to Kaaterskill Junction; thence by Stony Clove and C. M. 
R. R. direct. 
Jefferson, Schoharie Co. — To Stamford as directed; thence by stage 

7 miles. 
Jewett Centre, Greene Co. — To Hunter as directed; thence by stage 

6 miles. 
Jewett Heights, Greene Co. — To Hunter as directed; thence by stage 

9 miles. 
*Kaaterskill, Greene Co.— Day Line steamers or West Shore R. R. 
to Catskill; change to Catskill Mountain Ry. to Otis Junction; 
change to Otis Elevating Ry. to Otis Summit; thence by Kaat- 
erskill R. R. direct. Or may be reached from Phoenicia by Stony 
Clove and C. M. R. R. to Kaaterskill Junction; thence by Kaat- 
erskill R. R. direct. 
Kaaterskill Junction, Greene Co.— To Kaaterskill as directed; thence 
by Stony Clove and C. M. R. R. direct. Or the Ulster and Dela- 
ware R. R. to Phoenicia as directed, and thence by Stony Clove 
and C. M. R. R. direct. 
*Kelley's Corners, Delaware Co —Day Line steamers to Kingston 
Point or West Shore R. R. to Kingston ; thence by Ulster and 
Delaware R. R. direct. 
^Kingston, Ulster Co.— Day Line steamers to Kingston Point, thence 
by Ulster and Delaware R. R. to Kingston station. Or from 
Kingston Point by trolley cars. Or by West Shore R. R. 
direct. 



20 THE CATSKILLS. 

King-ston Point, Ulster Co.— Day Line steamers direct. Or West 

Shore R. R. to King-ston, and trolley cars to the Point. 
Kiskatom, Greene Co. — To Lawrenceville as directed; thence by 

private conveyance !}{> miles. 
Kripple Bush, Ulster Co. — To Brodhead's Bridg-e as directed; thence 

by private conveyance 8 miles. 
Krumville, Ulster Co. — To Brodhead's Bridge as directed ; thence by 

private conveyance 8 miles. 
Lake Delaware, Delaware Co. — To Bloomville as directed; thence by 

private conveyance 8 miles. 
Lake Hill, Ulster Co. — To Mount Pleasant as directed ; thence by 

private conveyance 7 miles. 
Lamontville, Ulster Co. — To Brown's Station as directed ; thence 

by private conveyance 4 miles. 
Lanesville, Greene Co. — To Phoenicia as directed; thence by Stony 

Clove and C. M. R. R. direct. 
Laurel House, Greene Co. — To Otis Summit as directed ; thence by 

Kaaterskill R. R. direct. Also from Phoenicia by Stony Clove 

and C. M. R. R. to Kaaterskill Junction, and thence by Kaaters- 
kill R. R. 
Lawrenceville, Greene Co. — To Catskill as directed ; thence by Cats- 
kill Mtn. Ry. 
Leeds, Greene Co.— To Catskill as directed ; thence by Catskill Mtn. 

Ry. direct. 
Lexing-ton, Greene Co. — To Shandaken as directed ; thence by stag-e 

11 miles. Or to Hunter, and thence by stag-e 9 miles. 
Long-year, Ulster Co —The P O name at Mt Pleasant 
Mackey, Schoharie Co — To Grand Gorge as directed ; thence by 

private conveyance 10 miles. 
Manor Kill, Schoharie Co — To Grand Gorg-e as directed ; thence by 

private conveyance 10 miles. 
Marbletown, Ulster Co.- -To West Hurley as directed; thence by 

private conveyance 4 miles. 
Marg-aretville, Delaware Co.- To Arkville as directed; thence by 

stage 2 miles. 
Mink Hollow, Ulster Co.— (P O. Lake Hill). To Mt. Pleasant as 

directed ; thence by private conveyance 9 miles. 
*Mount Pleasant, Ulster Co.— (P. O. Long-year). Day Line steamers 

to Kingston Point, or West Shore R. R. to King-ston ; thence by 

Ulster and Delaware R. R. direct. See "the Corner." 
New King-ston, Delaware Co. — To Arkville as directed ; thence by 

private conveyance 9 miles. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 21 

North Blenheim, Schoharie Co. — To Grand Gorg-e as directed; thence 

by private conveyance 10 miles. 
North Harpersfield, Delaware Co.— To Stamford as directed; thence 

by private conveyance 6 miles. 
Norton Hill, Greene Co.— To Cairo as directed; thence by private 

conveyance 8 miles. 
Oak Hill, Greene Co.— To Cairo as directed; thence by stag-e 12 miles. 
Olive, Ulster Co.— To Olive Branch as directed; thence by private 

conveyance 3 miles. 
*01ive Branch, Ulster Co.— Day Line steamers to King-ston Point, or 

West Shore R. R. to Kingston; thence by Ulster and Delaware 

R. R. direct. P. O. name, Ashton. 
Olive Bridg-e, Ulster Co.— To Brodhead's Bridg-e as directed; thence 

by private conveyance 2 miles. 
Olive City, Ulster Co. — Local name for Olive Bridg-e. 
Olivera. Ulster Co.— To Big- Indian as directed; thence by stag-e 2>4 

miles. 
Otis Summit, Greene Co.— The mountain terminus of the Otis Ele- 
vating- Ry. Day Line steamers or West Shore R R to Catskill; 

Catskill Mountain Ry. to Otis Junction; thence by Otis Elevating- 

Ry direct. 
Palenville, Greeene Co.— To Catskill as directed; thence by Catskill 

Mountain Ry. direct. 
*Phoenicia, Ulster Co — Day Line steamers to King-ston Point, or 

West Shore R R. to King-ston; thence by Ulster and Delaware 

R. R. direct. 
*Pine Hill, Ulster Co —Day Line steamers to Kingston Point, or West 

Shore R. R to King-ston; thence by Ulster and Delaware R. R. 
Prattsville, Greene Co. — To Grand Gorg-e as directed; thence by, stag-e 

5 miles. 
Purling-, Greene Co.— To Cairo as directed; thence by private con- 
veyance 2 miles. 
*Roxbury, Delaware Co. — Day Line steamers to King-ston Point, or 

West Shore R. R. to Kingston; thence by Ulster and Delaware 

R. R. 

Ruth, Schoharie Co. — To Stamford as directed; thence by private 

conveyance 8 miles 
Samsonville, Ulster Co.— To Brodhead's Bridg-e as directed; thence 

by private conveyance 6 miles. 
Saxton, Ulster Co.— To Palenville as directed; thence by private 

conveyance 2 miles. 

Seager, Ulster Co. — To Arkville as directed; thence by private con- 
veyance 8 miles. 



22 THE CATSKILLS. 

Shady, Ulster Co.— To West Hurley as directed; thence by private 

conveyance 6 miles. 
*Shandaken, Ulster Co.— Day Line steamers to King-ston Point, or 

West Shore R. R. to King-ston; thence by Ulster and Delaware 

R. R. direct. 
Shavertown, Delaware Co.— To Arkville as directed; thence by stag-e 

15 miles. 
Shokan, Ulster Co.— Day Line steamers to Kingston Point, or West 

Shore R. R. to King-ston; thence by Ulster and Delaware R. R. 

direct. 
Slide Mountain, Ulster Co. — To Big Indian as directed; thence by 

stage 5 miles. 
South Cairo, Greene Co. — To Catskill as directed; thence by Catskill 

Mountain Ry. direct. 
South Durham, Greene Co. — To Cairo as directed; thence by stag-e 

6 miles. 
*South Gilboa, Schoharie Co. — Day 'Line steamers to King-ston Point, 

or West Shore R. R. to Kingston; thence by Ulster and Delaware 

R. R. direct. 
South Jefferson, Schoharie Co. — To Stamford as directed; thence by 

private conveyance 5 miles. 
*South Kortrig-ht, Delaware Co. — Day Line steamers to King-ston 

Point, or West Shore R. R. to King-ston; thence by Ulster and 

Delaware R. R. direct. 
Spruceton, Greene Co. — To Shandaken as directed; thence by private 

conveyance 10 miles. 
Stamford, Delaware Co. — Day Line steamers to King-ston Point, or 

West Shore R. R. to King-ston; thence by Ulster and Delaware 

R. R. direct. 
Summit Mountain. — The P. O. name at the New Grand Hotel. See 

Grand Hotel Station. 
Sunside, Greene Co. — To Cairo as directed; thence by private con- 
veyance 5 miles. 
Tannersville, Greene Co. — To Otis Summit as directed; thenc 

Kaaterskill R. R. direct. Or to Phoenicia as directed; th 

by Stony Clove and C. M. Ry. to Kaaterskill Junction; th 

by Kaaterskill R. R. direct. 
The Corner, Ulster Co. — One of the two post-offices at Mount Pleae 

the other being Longyear. Longyear is at the station. The 

ner, half a mile away, across the Esopus. See Mount Pleaj 
Union Grove, Delaware Co. — To Arkville as directed; thenci 

stage 12 miles. 
Union Society, Greene Co. — To Cairo as directed; thence by s 

13 miles. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 23 

Warnerville, Schoharie Co. — To Stamford as directed; thence by 

private conveyance 16 miles. 
*West Hurley, Ulster Co. — Day Line steamers to King-ston Point, or 

West Shore R. R. to King-ston; thence by Ulster and Delaware 

R. R. direct. 
Westkill, Greene Co. — To Shandaken as directed; thence by stag-e 

7 miles. 
West Shokan, Ulster Co. — P. O. name at Shokan Station, which see. 
Windham, Greene Co.- — To Hunter as directed; thence by stage 9 

miles. Or to Cairo and thence by stage 16 miles. 
Wittenberg-, Ulster Co. — ^To Cold Brook as directed; thence by pri- 
vate conveyance 4 miles. 
Woodland, Ulster Co. — To Phoenicia as directed; thence by private 

conveyance 5 miles. 
Woodstock, Ulster Co. —To West Hurley as directed; thence by stage 

5 miles. 
Zena, Ulster Co. — To West Hurley as directed; thence by private 

conveyance 4 miles. 



* Stations marked thus may also be reached by the Romer & 
Tremper Steamboat to Rondout, a nig-ht line, or by Steamer Mary 
Powell, which leaves New York in the afternoon, arriving at Ron- 
dout about dark, and remaining- over night at a hotel, taking- Ulster 
and Delaware trains at Rondout Station in the morning-. 



■**!$*$:€;*«- 



CHAPTER V. 

HINTS AND HELPS. 

WHERE a part of the journey to any desired resort is to be 
made by " private conveyance," as will be found noted in 
Chapter , IV, in some cases, it is wise to arrang-e before- 
hand for such conveyance, and understand what the charge will be. 
Many houses away from the stag-e-lines have their own teams and 
make no additional charg^e for the service; but some do not, and 
depend upon their neig-hbors' teams, which have to be paid for. A 
complete understanding- as to money matters is so important as to 
make the difference, for some people, between happiness and misery 
for the whole season. " Be wise in time," as saith the proverb. 



24 THE CATSKILLS. 

Accommodations may be had at the houses mentioned in this 
book at from $5 a week to $4 a day. It should not be expected that 
the low-priced houses give the same accommodations, or set as varied 
a table, as the hig-h-priced ones. Those who make the lower prices 
are farm houses, as a rule, where the business of life is farming-, and 
boarders are taken for the few weeks of the boarding- season to help 
along. The fare at these houses is good, wholesome and abundant. 
The variety found on the tables of the larger hotels should not be ex- 
pected, nor should their complete appointments in service and fur- 
nishings be looked for. Another class of houses are the larger board- 
ing houses, charging middle rates. These are devoted wholly to en- 
tertaining guests, and stand empty and idle nine months of the year. 
Remembering this the higher rates are not exorbitant. The larger 
hotels are the equals of any in the world in comfort and elegant fur- 
nishings, and in the bill of fare. Their distance from the markets 
adds much to the cost of all that is served, and the charg^es are not 
more than in city hotels who receive their supplies at their doors. 
The one thing necessary to a happy sojourn in the Catskills is con- 
tentmcnt and this the visitor must supply. Therefore it is wise to 
choose your boarding house or hotel, from such a class as will meet 
your desires, and the advertised price per week is a good guide as to 
what may be reasonably looked for, for competition is keen and prices 
have been scaled down close to living rates. 

In the matter of clothing, it should be remembered that as a rule 
the nights are cool among the mountains and light wraps are very 
desirable soon after sundown. Woolen clothing throughout is the 
rule of the wise and prudent who believe in prevention rather than 
cure. 

Since it has been decided that it is change from the usual routine 
as well as change of air that brings rest and refreshing, it would 
seem to be wise to avoid, so far as possible, the carrying of one's 
usual occupations into the mountains. Still this is just what many 
people do. The idea seems to be to get out of the life one usually 
lives, and into a new and different one for the time being. This 
should be a part of the planning for the summer vacation. Try to 
leave all of the old life at home with its cares, and enter fully into 
the peculiar pleasures of an outdoor life " in close communion with 
Nature " as saith the poet. 

An old farmer and boarding-house keeper said a few days ago, 
"They tell me that if I should go to the city for a spell and act as 
my boarders do when they come here that I would be in the 'jug' in- 
side of ten minutes, and I wouldn't blame 'em a mite if I was." One 
hopes this is an exaggeration for the sake of the good breeding- which 
prevails among- city folk at home, and that whatever breach of g-ood 



FEKRIS'S HANDBOOK. 25 

manners may occur is due rather to exuberance of spirits rather than 
to the fact that the "Golden Rule" has been left at home. Don't 
forget it. Be sure you have it with you, for it is like the enchanter's 
wand turninaf all to sfold that it touches. 



CHAPTER VI. 

THE WESTERN C A T S K I I, L S . 

IHE name "Western Catskills " has been g-iven to the regfion 
lying- west of the rang-e marked by High Peak opposite the 
Kaaterskill Hotel at one end and the Westkill Chain at the 
other. It is of later development than the old Catskill Mountain 
House reg-ion and the section about Cairo and Windham, dating- 
from the time of the opening- of the Ulster and Delaware R. R. 
in 1870. There was some travel here before that by stag-es, but 
the region g-enerally was made accessible by this railroad, which 
is to-day its only thoroug-hfare, so far as the summer visitor is 
concerned. 

This part of the Catskills is nearer to New York in point of time 
as well as distance excepting- at the more distant points on the rail- 
road. The entrance is by way of King-ston Point, if one makes the 
trip up the Hudson by the Day Line steamers, which, in itself, is a 
most delig-htful experience to add to the summer vacation, with not 
only a saving- in expense of travel, but also a great saving- in fatig-ue 
for many, and the freedom from the annoyances of dust and noise in- 
cident to railway travel. 

At King-ston Point the Day Boat lands its passeng-ers on one side 
of the wharf and the Ulster and Delaware train stands just across on 
the other side ready to start for the mountains without a moment's 
loss of time. This arrang-ement was consummated last season for the 
first and the g-reat savings in time over the previous plan of landing- 
at Rhinebeck and taking- the ferry across was appreciated by all 
who came this way. It is quite certain, too, that this new atten- 
tion of the Day Line to the comfort and convenience of its pa- 
trons will be well repaid in the increase of travel by its deservedly 
popular steamers. 

Let us follow the route of the railroad as it leaves the King-s- 
ton Point wharf on its way to the mountains. For a short distance 
we are upon a trestle and soon are along-side of the Rondout Creek 



26 



THE CATSKILLS. 




HUDSON RIVER AND MOUTH OF RONDOUT CREEK. 
IN THE DISTANCE. 



RHINECLIFF 



with its great variety of shipping- craft, from the needle-like " shell" 
of the boat club up to the commodious steamers of the Romer and 

Tremper Line ; 
from the bum- 
boat and the 
f e r r y m an ' s 
wherry to the 
spick and span 
steam yacht 
waiting- the 
return of its 
owner from the 
mountains. A 
brief stop is 
made at the 
R o n d o u t sta- 
tion for such 
passengers as 
may have come 

over by the ferry from the Rhinebeck station on the New York Central 
R. R. across the river, and then the train begins a climb up the Rondout 
cliffs winding- this way and that to g-ain the desired g-rade. Glimpses 
of the river and the Rondout Creek, more or less extended, are caug-ht 
as the train moves onward and upward in its tortuous course. Finally 
after a series of rocky cuts we come out into the open upland. To the 

left on an emi- 
nence stands 
the King-ston 
City Hall, its 
high tower com- 
manding- a 
wonderful view 
of the Catskill 
Mountains, the 
whole southern 
facade being in 
full view far be- 
yond the city. 
It is easily visit- 
ed from the 
King-ston sta- 
tion and any 

one who has an hour to wait cannot employ it to better advantag-e. 
The trolley cars take you from the station to the entrance of the 
City Hall in five minutes. 




RONDOUT CREEK AND HUDSON RIVER LOOKING SOUTH, FROM 
THE CLIFFS AT RONDOUT. 



FERRIS S HANDBOOK. 



27 



Passing- this and the busy factory of the Peckham Car Truck 
Works we cross the tracks of the West Shore R. R. and come to a 
stop at King-ston station. Here the Wallkill Valley R. R. has its 
northern terminus and from this road and the West Shore many pas- 
seng-ers are added to our numbers. 

It has been thoug^ht best to follow the routes of the railroads in 
this book as most visitors will travel in that way. There are a few 
who ride throug^h the mountains in private conveyances, and for these 
there are numberless beautiful views which the railroad traveler 
never sees. But we are a nation of railroaders, and few of us could 
stand a fifty-mile or even a thirty-mile drive, and retain the capacity 
for enjoying- the beautiful in Nature. 

At each station, therefore, we shall alight and visit each point 
of interest in the vicinity, with such chat as may make our way the 
more entertaining-. Here and there it will be necessary to diverg^e 
considerably to climb a mountain, or to make a day trip, but we 
shall return ag-ain to the railroad station to resume the journey and 
make it practically continuous for those who do not stop over. 

At King-ston there are several objects of interest to those his- 
torically inclined, and many visitors to the Catskills arrange to spend 
a day in this city. Many old stone houses are scattered throughout 
the western part 
of the city, dating- 
back to the last 
century. The one 
house left untouch- 
ed at the burning- 
of King-ston in 1777 
is still in excellent 
preservation. The 
Senate House built 
in 1676, and in 
which the first 
constitution of the 
State of New York 
was drawn up and 
adopted, is now the 

property of the State, and has become the treasure-house of a g-reat 
number of articles of historical interest. The g-raveyard of the old 
Dutch Reformed Church is another spot visited by many antiquarians. 
Its quaint old tomb-stones, some of them grotesquely shaped slabs 
of blue-stone with Dutch inscriptions, bear records reaching over sev- 
eral generations. 

A favorite day trip from King-ston is to Lake Mohonk, which 
unique resort demands a chapter of its own. 




OLD SENATE HOUSE, KINGSTON. 



28 



THE CATSKILLS. 




LAKE MOHONK MOUNTAIN HOUSE. 



CHAPTEP VII. 



LAKE MOHONK AND LAKE MINNEWASKA. 

LAKE MOHONK with its peculiar attractions lies southwest of 
King-ston, about eig"hteen miles distant. It is reached by the 
Wallkill Valley R. R. to New Paltz station, and thence by 
stage; or the trip may be made with great enjoyment in a private 
conveyance, one route lying- throug-h Hurley, Marbletown and Stone 
Ridg-e. At the last named place is the summer home of Francis H. 
Leg-g^ett of New York City, — an eleg-ant estate. 

Lake Mohonk is the only place of its kind, a sort of g-athering- 
tog-ether in one spot of all that g-oes to make up the attractively 
wild in Nature. The phase "in miniature" has been used in de- 
scribing- its scenery, but there is no feeling- of littleness about it. 
Everything- is massive and gfrand, and while the lake looks small 
viewed from certain points, it is only from contrast with features 
which are larg-e. Then, ag-ain, no part of this region is out of reach. 
The heights are accessible to those who are not strong, the chasms 
and clefts may be traversed without weariness, and yet lose nothing 
of their impressive character, because they are within the compass 
of ordinary ability, and do not require the strength and endurance 
of a giant. And it may be said here that nowhere else is so much 
brought so close together, and within such easy reach of comfort- 
able enjoyment. 



FEKRIS'S HANDBOOK. 



29 



In this brief chapter it is possible only to hint at the multitude 
of interesting- objects at Lake Mohonk. The lake itself, a little more 
than half a mile in length and perhaps half that in width — guessing- 
at distances across water is not satisfactory, — is fed by spring-s, and 
the water is of a deep eiiifnild i^rrcn, very beautiful when the light is 
favorable. Its shores r . „ ^ 

are wonderfully pic- r 
turesque, being most- r 
ly of rock, either g 
reaching- hig-h up 6 
into perpendicular > 
cliffs and crag-s, or a j 
tumbled confusion of 
immense fragments, 
the rug-g-edness only 
partially draped with 
the foliag-e of such 
veg-etation as can find 
a living- among- the 
crevices. And yet 
along- this wild and 
savag-e shore are 
numerous landinj^ 
places, some natural, 
some artificial, all 
delightfully interest- 
ing- in detail. 

The mountain 
peak "Sky-top" is 
the other principal 
feature of the spot. It rises almost directly from the shore of the 
lake, cliffs piled upon cliffs into a precipice. From its summit, which 
stands alone, the view is far reaching- in all directions. Toward the 
north the whole southern fa?ade of the Catskill Mountains is spread 
out in g-rand array, distant about twenty-five miles. At the right 
hand end of the group is North Mountain lying- beyond the old Cats- 
kill Mountain House and North Lake; then, passing- toward the left, 
is the peak of the Overlook, with its g-reat mountain house half a 
mile to the left of the summit. Then still further left is Indian 
Head, and then Twin Mountain, then Mink Mountain (or Sug-ar 
Loaf) and then the bold lines of the deep pass of Mink Hollow. 
Next to the left is Plateau Mountain and then Hunter Mountain, 
the hig-hest of that g-roup. The next very hig-h peak is Big- West 
Kill Mountain. The more distant peaks are scarcely distinguish- 




LOOKING DOWN THE LAKE. 



30 



THE CATSKILLS. 



able. Of the group on the left of the wide valley of the Esopus 
Creek up which we have been looking-, Hig-h Point at Shokan is the 

nearest and most 
prominent, and back 
of this is the hig"h 
Wittenberg- chain 
of five peaks, and 
Panther Mountain 
to the rig-ht in the 
distance. To the 
left of Hig-h Point 
are Peakamoose and 
Table Mountain. 
The Neversink 
> Mountains carry 
\ the eye around still 
i further west to 
where the Pike 
County mountains 
m Pennsylvania 
usurp the sky-line. 
Toward the south- 
west are the Sha- 
wang-unks with 
their quaint con- 
""■'■-" ""^ trastsof g-entlyslop- 

PROFLE ROCK. [ng woodlauds and 

abrupt rocky cliffs. 
Lake Minnewaska, a resort similar in character to Lake Mohonk, 
lies seven miles away, its larg-e houses in full view. 

The other quadrant of our circle of vision is over lowlands cov- 
ered with farms noted for their rich and g-enerous returns to the 
farmer's toil. The view depends larg-ely upon the condition of the 
atmosphere; when clear, reaching- the hills of Berkshire County in 
Massachusetts toward the east, and north of these the Green Moun- 
tains of Vermont. 

With this superb outlook only half an hour's easy walk from the 
hotel, the fascinating- allurements, which, for the human race, invest 
every body of water, and doubly so this gem of a lake in a setting- 
of Nature's own repousse, and natural curiosities in cliffs, g-org-es, 
crevices, caves, waterfalls, crag-s, and all the other peculiar features 
of mountain and forest, in bewildering- profusion, — with all this as 
one may say, within arm's reach, what wonder that the hotel here 
has expanded almost into a small villag-e, one house being- built 




FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 31 

ag"aitist another until it is over an eig^hth of a mile long-, as pic- 
turesque as the Swiss idea can make it. 

The house is noted for strict total abstinence, not alone from 
spirituous liquors, but also from " the noisy nuisance of interminable 
dancing, bawling" and racketing- that make our American watering- 
places the disg-ust of all quiet souls," as one visitor expresses it. 
These wholesome restrictions determine the standard of character 
of the gruests, as such may be expressed in deportment, and Mr. 
Smiley, the proprietor, is now reaping- the reward of his wisdom in 
making- these rules long- ag-o, in the fact that the g-uests at Lake 
Mohonk are of the best people in the land. 

With such an environment, animate and inanimate, who could 
not pass a season of rest peacefully and happily beside this mountain 
lake? 

LAKE MINNEWASKA. 

Lake Minnewaska, as before mentioned, is a resort similar in 
characteristics to Mohonk. It lies on the top of the same rang-e 
of mountains, seven miles southwest of Mohonk, and is surrounded 
by very much the same extraordinary scenery. There are two houses 
here, the Cliff House, on the top of the cliffs at the eastern side of 
the Lake, 150 feet above the water, and the Wildmere House at the 
northern end of the Lake perhaps 100 feet lower. The elevation of 
the Cliff house is 1800 feet above the sea level, commanding- mag-ni- 
ficent views in all directions, embracing- the mountains along- the 
northern border of New Jersey on the south; the Hig-hlands of the 
Hudson and Newburg-h Bay toward the southeast; the Housatonic 
Mountains of Connecticut toward the east; the Berkshire Hills of 
Massachusetts and the Green Mountains of Vermont toward the 
northeast; the Helderberg-s toward the north, the Catskills toward 
the northwest; and the Neversink and Shawang-unk Hills toward 
the west. 

Lake Minnewaska is larg-er than Lake Mohonk, and while 
similar to it, has its own individual features which are eag-erly 
explored, not only by its own g-uests, but as well by parties who 
come over to spend the day, sometimes to the number of forty or 
fifty on a sing-le day. 

The romantic Awasting- Falls are about a mile from the Cliff 
House and well repay a visit at any time, doubly so when the water 
is hig-h. The Cascades of the Peterskill are very interesting-, and 
clefts, crevices and caves g-ive g-reat variety of interest to the rock 
formations, natural and accidental. With these may be mentioned 
the g-reat cliffs of the Millbrook Mountains near at hand with their 
sheer precipices five hundred feet hig-h, and nearer still the Palmag-- 
halt and its g-iant hemlocks. 



32 THE CATSKILLS. 

The g-uests at Lake Minnewaska belong" to the same class as 
those at Mohotik, and here also those of refined and moral tastes 
may enjoy a peacefully happy rest free from the annoyances expe- 
rienced at resorts where the restrictions are less string-ent. 

[Note. — It is with great regret that the publisher is obliged to announce 
that the illustrations to accompany this brief article on Lake Minnewaska 
did not arrive in time to be used.] 



-5«-$S€i$!S«- 



CHAPTER VIII. 

LAKE AIOSKAWASTING. 

THIS charming- lake lies three miles southwest of Lake Minne- 
waska. It is two miles in leng-th and half a mile wide at the 
widest part, covering- about five hundred acres, or nearly ten 
times as larg-e as Lake Minnewaska. It is located upwards of 2000 
feet above the sea level, and in scenery resembles the other lakes,— 
Mohonk and Minnewaska, — on this mountain rang-e. This lake, too, 
has its lofty peak of outlook in Hig-h Point, which is several hundred 
feet higher than "Sky Top," at Mohonk. 

The surrounding- woodlands abound with natural curiosities of 
rocks and waterfalls, caverns and cascades. 

There is a house of twelve rooms near the foot of the lake at 
which family parties are entertained during- the season. Address 
H. D. Darrow, 67 Albany Ave., Kingston, N. Y. 

This lake and a larg-e tract of woodland surrounding is now for 
sale, and as it is practically wild and undeveloped it is hoped that it 
will fall into the hands of such men as the Messrs. Smiley, of 
Mohonk and Minnewaska, and be converted to a hig-h class resort like 
those places. 

[Note. — See advertisement in back of this book.] 



FEKRIS\S HANDBOOK. 33 



CHAPTER IX. 



WEST HURLEY, 

GLENFORD, WOODSTOCK, BEAKSVILLE, SHADY AND MEAd's. 

RESUMING our journey at the King-ston station, after the day 
trip to Mohonk, we have a few minutes to look about before 
the train leaves, while perhaps the throug"h cars from Phila- 
delphia, New York and other points are being- switched from the 
West Shore R. R. tracks to become a part of the Ulster and Delaware 
train for the mountains. 

Obedient to the impulse which has brought us thus far in search 
of the mountains, we turn our g-aze instinctively toward the north, 
where the great masses of blue reach up into the sky. This view is 
oblique to the trend of the eastern fagade of the mountains and the 
peaks push out one beyond another until Round Top, opposite Cairo, 
is reached. The g-reat Overlook Mountain, the southeasternmost 
corner of the g"roup, is nearest, with its big- hotel boastfully upon its 
shoulder. Just beyond, to the rig-ht, is Plattekill Mountain, then, 
still further east, Hig-h Peak, then South Mountain with the g-reat 
Kaaterskill Hotel perched lightly upon its breast, and just beyond 
the rolling curve of South Mountain the old Catskill Mountain 
Hotel, the pioneer hotel of the reg^ion. Back of this famous hotel 
and reaching- hig-h above it, is seen North Mountain, and finally 
Cairo Round Top. 

Leaving- Kingston station the train descends rapidly to the 
''Lowlands," a broad and fertile plain stretching- on both sides of the 
Esopus Creek for many miles. Across this level we see ag-ain the 
same array of mountain peaks becoming- bluer and bluer in the 
distance. One by one they disappear behind the precipitous slopes 
of the Overlook. The Fair Street station at the northern edge of the 
city is passed, and then a mile bring-s us to Esopus Creek, whose 
slug-gish current and banks of black mud convey no idea of the brisk 
and dashing mountain stream which we shall find it when we next 
see it at Brodhead's Bridg-e. 

Now the actual climb to the heig-hts begins, and we are soon up 
on the ledg-es of Stony Hollow looking- down upon the blue-stone 
wag-ons making- their way toilsomely to tide water at Rondout 
or Wilbur. A mile or two further and we stop at West Hurley 
station. 

The villag-e of West Hurley lies south of the railroad a short 
quarter of a mile. It is a quiet rural villag-e scattered along- on both 



34 THE CATSKILLS. 

sides of one long- street. Several stores and churclies, two hotels 
WEST HURLEY P o ^^^ ^ ^^^ boarding- houses are to be found 
jj, g-|-_P „„ n. Y here, and it is also the station for visitors 

g-oing- to Mead's, Woodstock, Glenford, 
Bearsville and Shady, and one route to Lake Hill, which is usually 
reached by way of Mt. Pleasant. 

Taking- the road south from the station we g-o over to the main 
street turn the corner to the left and cross the street to Marcus Lane's 
Hotel. Here are accommodations for fifty. Day rate $1.50. Special 
rates by the week or month. A g-ood livery at reasonable rates. 

Alfred Bonesteel's is a quarter of a mile further east on this road, 
which leads to Kingston. Room for ten. Apply. 

From the road near this house there is a remarkably fine view of 
the Wittenberg Chain beyond Shokan. The five peaks are distinct 
and the right hand peak is the Wittenberg. Next toward the left is 
Mt. Cornell, then Spruce Top, then Fourth Mountain and the Fifth 
Mountain. This completes the chain. Slide Mountain looms up be- 
tween Mt. Cornell and Spruce Top. To the left of this group are 
Table Mountain and Peekamoose, then alone toward the left is High 
Point. To the right of the Wittenberg chain is Tysteneyck, then to- 
ward the right Little Toinje, Big Toinje, Oleberg away back beyond 
Lake Hill, Mink Mountain, (or Sugar Loaf) then Twin Mountain, 
Indian Head and the Overlook on the extreme right. The village 
lies prettily in the foreground. 

A short distance further (toward Kingston) is a road turning to 
the right, leading across the railroad track to Geo. Rowe's. Room 
here for fifteen. $5 a week. 

A few rods further on the main road is C. E. Brink's hotel, at the 
junction with the road to Woodstock. $1.50 per day. 

Returning now to Lane's Hotel we take this same road in the 
opposite or westerly direction, passing the post-office, within a few 
steps, and the several stores. The first turn toward the right leads 
to the Reformed church. A short walk further is the Methodist 
church, and across the street, close by, is Mrs. N. J. Barton's, with 
room for ten. Apply for terms. 

There is also a Roman Catholic church a long mile down the road 
toward Stony Hollow. 

Now we return to the railroad station for a new start northward 
toward Woodstock. The view up the track is interesting, the 
Wittenberg group filling in the background handsomely. A little 
way out we have a fine view of the mountains again, this time with 
the head of the great Beaverkill swamp for a foreground. Twin 
Mountain shows from here as a single peak of peculiarly bold out- 
line, the southernmost peak hiding the other. Those who have seen 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 35 

Mount Colviti, in the Adirondacks, from St. Hubert's Inn, will be 
struck with the likeness of this view of Twin Mountain. 



LOOKING NORTHWARD OVER THE BEAVERKILL SWAMP. 

About a mile out toward Woodstock the Glenford road turns off 
toward the left. 
_, ,-K,-^„r^ „ ^ About a mile and a half farther on this 

GLENFORD P. U., 

iiic-rcDo/-» M V roa-d we come to Mrs. I. H. Moore's. Room 

Ul-o I tn KjD., in. Y. 

for twenty. $5 to $7. 

A. A. Castle's is next. Room for twenty-five. Apply. 

Then comes Walter Lee's, with room for thirty. Apply. 

Wm. Yerry's is next. Room for twenty-five. Apply. 

This bring-s us to the post-office, three miles from the West 
Hurley station. Just beyond is Samuel Brower's with room for 
thirty. $5 to $7. 

Georg-e Brower's is next. Room for ten. $5 to $7. 

Then John D. Brower's. Room for fifteen. Apply. 

Hiram Austen's is next. He takes ten. $5 to $7. 

Wallace Lee's is next. Room for twelve. $5 to $7. 

This road is now rapidly approaching- Olive Branch, and as the 
remaining- houses are nearer that station they will be noticed in the 
next chapter. 

From near the Glenford P. O. a road runs northeasterly to the 
Woodstock road, along- the foot of the Beaverkill Mountain. On this 
road are three boarding- houses. 

William Moore's is first. Room for fifteen. Apply. 

Chas. Burkins's is next, with room for ten. Apply. 

Henry Johnson's is third. He takes ten. Apply. 

We may follow on this road to Woodstock, but for our purpose it 
is best to return to the Woodstock road where we diverg-ed to g-o to 
Glenford. From this point we g-o on toward Woodstock for a long- 
half-mile, to Mrs. E. J. Lane's. Room for twenty. Apply. 



36 THE CATSKILI.S. 

Nathan Wolven's is close by. Room for ten. Apply. 

Half a mile further is Eug-ene Vredenburg-h's. Room for fifteen. 
Apply. 

This is the last of the West Hurley houses, and we are now 
approaching- Woodstock. The Overlook Mountain becomes larg-er as 
we approach it, and the big- hotel becomes more and more distinct, 
and the Lookout Tower on top of the mountain is plainly in view. 
The eastern slope of this mountain is peculiarly bold and rug-g-ed 
owing- to several perpendicular cliffs. Mead's Mountain House too is 
visible, apparently on a spur of the Overlook directly under Mink 
Mountain. The Beaverkill Mountain is on the left, its wild ledg-es 
affording- a foothold for many pines. On the rig-ht the fields show a 
g-ood many red cedars, their russet pyramids showing- rich among- 
the tamer pines and hemlocks, and g-iving- a fine balsamic spice 
to the air. 

Rounding- a curve in the road and rising- a slight hill we come 
into view of Woodstock, situated in a beautiful valley, protected on 
the north by the towering- Overlook Mountain which seems hig-her 
than ever. Now we beg-in to descend, and soon have a view down 
the valley toward the west. The fine peak near by on the left is 
Tysteneyck; Mount Tobias is on the rig-ht and at the end closing- the 
WOODSTOCK P O outlook, is Samuels' Point beyond Boiceville. 
jj, g-pcD CO N Y "^^^^ before entering- the villag-e a pretty 

stream is crossed where there is a water- 
fall, making- a most pleasing- picture as one looks up stream. 

The larg-e and comfortable house close by on the rig-ht is A. N. 
Riseley's, four miles and a half from the West Hurley station. Here 
is room for seventy-five boarders. Apply for terms. 

The stream over which we came is the Sawkill, which supplies 
the city of King-ston with water. The reservoirs are a mile below 
Woodstock. The road leading- down past Riseley's is a shorter way 
to King-ston than the one we have come. 

Half a mile down this road is Alvah Lasher's. Room for ten. 
Apply. 

Going- toward the villag-e the next house is Jas. Lasher's, with 
room for fifteen. Apply. 

Just beyond, a road turns in to a larg-e stone house standing- back 
from the road. This is C. J. Hog-an's. Room for twenty-five. 
Apply. 

A short distance further is the Lutheran Church on the left, a 
pretty, modern building-. 

The hotel is across the street a little further on, kept by Wm. F. 
Van Natten. Transients, $2 a day. By the week, $7 to $10. Ac- 
commodations for seventy. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 37 

The road to Mead's, McDaniers and the Overlook turns off just 
along-side of the hotel. A superb white birch tree, of an uncommon 
species may be seen in a yard on the rig-ht as we g^o on to Mead's. 
The way is interesting-. The fields begin to show outcropping ledg-es 
and many little brooks tumblings down over them in miniature cas- 
cades. Mead's is nearly 1500 feet above Woodstock, and tke road is 
steep and zig--zag-. But the views are fine, and the " thank-ye- 
marms " are numerous, and g-ive one a chance to look about. Nearly 
a mile up, the road swing-s toward the west and a fine view of Wood- 
stock is enjoyed. The cemetery is in full view, looking more popu- 
lous than the villag-e, a fact explained by the numerous interments of 
persons who, havings seen and loved the pretty villag-e in life, have 
turned toward it with longing for its peaceful quiet when the end 
came. Far away toward the south just visible, to the left of the 
Beaverkill Mountain are blue hills, and some one says, " Oh, there is 
Mohonk! See, Sky Top and Eag-le Cliff, and the notch where the 
lake is, etc., etc." But it isn't, althoug-h it looks so very like it. 
This is one of those strang-e mimicries previously mentioned. As we 
g-et up hig-her we shall see Mohonk lying- to the right of its peculiar 
" double " now in view. 

For another mile the road climbs hig-her and higher, but at last 
the summit is reached and Mead's is there, as it has been for 32 years, 
when its visitors came to Rondout by the Day Boats and were brought 
out here the rest of the way by stag-e, reaching- the house ten or 
eleven o'clock at night. In those days, Mr. Mead says, people were 
g-lad to get away from railroads and were content with mail three 
times a week ; now they want a railroad station rig-ht in front of the 
house, mail every hour and a teleg-raph within reach of the bed. He 
deplores the "pace" at which the present generation lives, and loves 
to talk of the "old times." There is room here for seventy-five. 
Terms $7 to $10. Address, Georg-e Mead, Woodstock, N. Y. 

Just in front of Mead's house the road to the Overlook turns up 
the mountain for two miles more. The hotel will probably not be 
opened this season, but many visitors will go up for the marvelous 
view, considered by many to be unequalled. 

The road passing- Mead's leads down into Bristol valley, turning- 
soon toward the west. Just after leaving Mead's the scenery is of 
the grandest. We are close by the rug-ged slopes of Twin Mountain 
and Indian Head. The foreg-round is wild and in keeping-, and the 
scene is full of interest. As the road turns toward the left, westward 
— a handsome valley view is presented. 

Half a mile down from Mead's is Nat. McDaniels'. This house 
has been much changed since last season and now accommodates 
sixty. Apply. 



38 'rH:E catskills. 

We may continue down this valley to Shady, two miles away, 
but a traveller bound for Shady would not have come up to Mead's, 
so let us return to Woodstock and take the road in that valley 
running" westward. 

Starting- from Van Natten's hotel we note the Reformed church 
close by, standing opposite the road from West Hurley, and blocking- 
a direct way, so we travel due south for a short distance, passing the 
ruins of Dr. Smith's well-known house, burned the past winter. 
This house will be sadly missed by many who have come to it for 
years for their vacation. Soon we turn again toward the west ; but 
the southerly bound roads leads on to another house. 


























1 






"' ! ' ■ f 


■ 


warn 


M 



LOOKING TOWARD BEARSVILLE FROM THE WOODSTOCK ROAD. 

E. T. Neher's is up against the Beaverkill Mountain on this road. 
Room for fifteen. Apply. 

Returning to the main road we go on to Bearsville, through a 

pretty country, — a distance of two miles. Here 

ULSTER CO N y' ^^ ^ "meeting" of waters," where the trout 

brooks join, and there is some material for 

the artists' pencil as well. 

Mrs. J. F. Miller's is the only house here taking boarders. 
Room for ten. Apply. 

Two miles further, on the Lake Hill road, 

ULSTER CO N Y ^^^ich turns off to the right just over the bridge, 

' " ' is Shady, a little village in a narrow winding 

valley with a rushing stream, which supplies power for several small 

saw-mills at intervals along its route. 

Here is E. L. Simpson's house, with room for twenty. $6 to $8. 

A mile beyond Shady is Lake Hill, ten miles from West Hurley ; 
but as this place is usually reached from Mount Pleasant, it will be 
described in that chapter. Cooper's Lake lies between Shady and 
Lake Hill, and in times of drought the lake is tapped and an addi- 
tional supply of water for Kingston goes tumbling over the rocks 
down through Shady and into the Sawkill, doubling its volume. 



FKRRIS'S HANDBOOK. 39 

MARBLETOWN P. O., From West Hurley southward lies Mar- 

ULSTER CO. N. Y. bletown at a distance of four miles. At 

that place Aaron Krom has accommoda- 
tions for forty. Apply. 

There are many pleasant rides from both West Hurley and 
Woodstock. The roads are good averag-e country roads, and the 
horses quite satisfactory. 



^*$$ €;$:*«- 



CHAPTER X. 

OI.IVE; BRANCH. 

THE three miles between West Hurley and Olive Branch are 
quickly passed over. Some pretty views are had across the 
Beaverkill Swamp which lies to the right of the track with 
occasional open water, and glimpses of the mountains ahead excite 
the interest of a traveler bound for the heights. The Beaverkill 
Mountain with its craggy terraces soon shuts out the Overlook group, 
and gradually gains height and mass culminating in the peak called 
Big Toinje. At Olive Branch station we are opposite this peak 
which presents its broad side to us. After we reach Shokan we 
shall see it edgewise with a very different outline. Little Toinje 
lies toward the west looking quite insignificant, a mere hill. 

From this point Tysteneyck seems to stand back of the Toinje 
ridge, and perhaps it is this that dwarfs its noble height of 2600 
feet. But to those tourists who are afflicted with that disordered 
imagination which delights in finding the distorted form of an ele- 
phant, or crocodile, floating as a cloud in the sky, and sees all sorts 
of horrid menagerie beasts, birds and reptiles, ancient and modern, in 
rock and tree and mountain outline, Tysteneyck from here is "so 
interesting, you know," because it is supposed to resemble a recum- 
bent tiger who lies with his head between his forepaws, — in wait, 
let us hope, for these same misguided people, to devour once and for 
all their peculiar mental affliction. 

A feature of this locality is Temple Pond, covering about one 

ASH TON P O hundred acres and affording most enjoyable 

^l_g-p^P QQ ^ Y recreation in boating and fishing. It lies at 

the foot of Big Toinje and nearly 100 feet 

higher than the village. 



40 THE CATSKILLS. 

The post office name here is Ashton, located in the store just 
across the road from the station. Eastward this road leads to West 
Hurley and Kingfston ; westward to Olive and Shokan. 

Near the station on the King-ston road is D. Ballard's. Room 
for fifteen. Apply. 

Alex. Bog-art's is half a mile down this road. Room for ten. $6. 

Frank Kubeschta's is on a branch road to the south. Room for 
thirty. $6 to $8. 

Returning- to the station we take the Shokan road. At a short 
quarter of a mile we find two houses. Cyrus Van Hoevenberg-h's is 
on the left. Room for ten. Apply. 

Joseph Moylan's is on the right; room for twenty-five. Apply. 

At the corner of Moylan's lot the road turns to the rig-ht to 
Temple Pond, which is a mile from this corner. A short distance 
out is the Methodist Church. 

A. Simmons's is close by. Room for fifteen. Apply. 

C. H. Russell's is at the corner, where the road to Glenford 
and Woodstock crosses; the rig-ht to Woodstock, the left to Shokan. 
Room for ten. Apply. 

A. B. Terwillig-er's is across the road. Room for twelve. Apply. 

Half a mile beyond is B. Buley's. Room for twenty. Apply. 

C. H. Warren's is a mile further, and on the way we pass Temple 
Pond at its lower end, g-etting- a pretty view of Hig-h Point with 
reflections in the water. Room for thirty. Apply. 

Returning- to the Glenford road we find John Lennox's half a 
mile from the corner, with accommodations for twenty. Apply 

Joseph Boice's is close by. Room for eight. Apply. 

A short distance beyond is J. G. Baker's. Room for twenty. 
Apply. 

From here the houses at Glenford come along- one after another, 
so close that there is practically no natural dividing- line between the 
two places. 

Returning- to the Shokan road at Moylan's, we may go on west- 
ward toward Olive P. O. which is about two miles from this corner. 

S. Phillips's is the first house, close by on the rig-ht. Room for 
twenty. $7 and $8. 

D. J. Elmendorf's is a few rods further. Room for twenty. $6. 
Wm. Dingman's is next, about half a mile from the station. 

Room for twenty-five. Apply. 

OLiVF p o The next houses on this road are at Olive 

ULSTER CO N Y nearly two miles away. On the way we pass 
a branch road toward the rig-ht which leads to 
L. Eckert's. Room for fifteen. 

M. Bishop's is next. Room for fifteen. Apply. 



FERRIS'S HANnBOOK. 



41 



S. Keog-an's is next, about a quarter of a mile from the post 
office. Room for twenty. Apply. 

E. H. Bog-art's is on a branch road leading- northward. Room 
thirty. Apply. 

A. C. Davis's is next to the post office building-. Room for twenty- 
five. Apply. 

A short mile from the post office toward Shokan, the "Hog-'s Back" 
is reached, a hig-h ridg-e from which fine views may be enjoyed. The 
"Old School" Baptist church occupies a site on the summit of this 
ridg-e. By this road Shokan is distant two miles and it is about the 
same to Brown's Station. 



CHAPTER XI. 



brown's station. 



FROM Olive Branch to Brown's station the railroad traverses the 
lower end of the extensive Beaverkill swamp, which lies diag-- 
onally across the line of the railroad. This "swamp" is afresh 
water marsh kept wet by multitudinous springs, and is very rich in 
variety of wild plants, especially certain rare species of lilies. It is 
always interesting-, 
even from the car 
windows, on account 
of its wealth of wild 
flowers. For more 
than two miles the 
rails are as straig^ht 
as the proverbial 
bee-line and the train 
makes its top speed 
on this stretch. 

A mile before 
Brown's station i s 
reached, the track 
curves to the left as 
if for a fair start, 

and then beg-ins to swing- to the rig-ht on a g-rand curve nearly 
four miles long-, chang-ing- its direction from a few points west of 
south to nearly due north at Shokan. 




H' ? 



BROWN'S STATION. HIGH POINT IN THE DISTANCE. 



42 



THE CATSKILLS. 



Rising- from the level of the "swamp," a fine rolling- plateau is 
reached and the trainman calls out "This Station is Brown's — 
Brown's Station." The scenery here is fine, with a peculiarity of its 
own. High Point and the more distant Wittenberg range, or Bush- 
kill Mountains, as they are often called, form an effective background 
of blue distance, against which the picturesque foreground cuts 
warm and strong with no visible middle distance. This toward the 
west and northwest. Tysteneyck stands in the north looking- five 
hundred feet higher than at Olive Branch. To the northeast is the 
Overlook Mountain with Indian Head and Twin Mountain to the left. 
The long famous Winchell's Falls is a mile and a half away 
toward the south, now the site of the Hudson River Pulp Works, 

where is made a cer- 
tain kind of wood 
pulp to be used ex- 
clusively in the pro- 
duction of dynamite. 
A fine dam has been 
built across the 
stream, which while 
not as picturesque as 
Nature's handiwork, 
has not ruined the 
fall by any means. 
Below the mill about 
half a mile, the 
stream runs through 
a deep rocky gorge 
which may be entered 
and traversed in the summer when the water is low. This is one of 
the sights of the region, and is visited by many people from all the 
country near. 

Brown's Station has been "discovered," and already two resi- 
dents of the Greater New York have built tasteful cottages here, and 
three more are planned for this season. The freedom of cottage life 
in the mountains is becoming more and more appreciated, and those 
who can make an extended stay are g-radually g-etting into their own 
homes and making room in the boarding houses for the ever-increas- 
ing pilg-rim band in search of rest and chang-e. It may be well to 
remark just here, that it was not of the Catskills that the disap- 
pointed traveller said that in his experience the waiters g-ot the 
"change," and the landlord, the "rest." 

At Brown's Station one finds the post of&ce, station and g-eneral 
store all under one roof. 




THE GRAND GORGE OF THE ESOPUS. 



FKRRIS'S HANDBOOK. 



43 



The nearest house is Mrs. H. M. Schryver's which is soonest 
reached by keeping- on up the track, if one is wary, to the first road 
BROWN'S STATION P. O. crossing", and there you are. Room for 
yi_gj^P QQ f^ Y sixteen. $5 and $6. This house may be 

reached, with. more propriety, by takings 
the road in the rear of the store and gfoing west, toward Hig-h Point, 
to the school house on the corner of the road to Shokan; thence to 
the rig-ht to the railroad. 

Turning to the left at the school house we pass the new Method- 
ist church, then a pretty and snug- private cottag-e, and then to 
Brown's Farm House on the bank of the Beaverkill, Here Albert 
Brown has room for twenty-five. $6 and $7. 

Crossing- the Beaverkill, a romantic stream with an old mill ac- 
cessory, we climb a 
decided hill throug-h 
a wood full of chip- 
mnunks and ever- 
g-reens for half a mile 
to Edwin Burhans's 
with room for fif- 
teen. Apply. 

We have now 
reached the hig-hest 
land b e t w e en the 
Beaverkill and the 
E sop us, and this 
height commands a 
remarkable view in all directions but the north. This is a favorite 
lookout for visitors in this neighborhood, and the sunsets seen from 
here are worthy of special mention. 

Down the hill we go, toward Winchell's Falls, a quarter of a 
mile to Philip Lasher's. Room for twenty. $7. 

Another quarter of a mile brings us to the falls and the Pulp 
Works. Turning to the left and following down the stream the 
" Grand Gorge " of the Esopus is reached. 

Returning to the station for a new start, we take the road north- 
ward which leads to Olive, and thence to Woodstock by way of 
Glenford, or to Kingston by the right hand road at the fork. 

Thos. Carson's is on a branch of this road half a mile away. 
Room for 'twenty-five. $6 and $7. 

On the Shokan road are several houses. Crossing the railroad 
at Mrs. Schryver's and going northward we find at the distance 
of half a mile, Wm. Winn's. Room for thirty-five. Apply. 

Mrs. S.'Steenburgh's is a little further. Room for fifteen. Apply. 




BROWN'S FARM HOUSE. 



44 



THE CATSKILLS. 



The next houses on this road are reached more comfortably from 
Brodhead's Bridg-e. A pleasant drive from Brown's station is to 
Bishop's Falls at Olive Bridg-e, about a mile and a half. The return 
may be made by a cross road coming- out at Wm. Winn's; and a stop 
should be made at the Palen House on the edg-e of the bluff to see 
the mag-nificent view from that spot. 



CHAPTER XII. 

BRODHEAD'S BRIDGE, 

TONGORE, KRUMVILLE, SAMSONVILLE, KRIPPI^E BUSH. 

AFTER leaving- Brown's Station there is little to see from the car 
window until the bridg-e is reached at Brodhead's. Here we 
cross the Esopus ag-ain, now a wild mountain stream, at this 
point divided by Pine Island. Many larg-e pines add piquancy to the 
sky line of this landscape and the Bushkill Mountains fill in the 
backg-round handsomely. 

It beg-ins to dawn upon the observer that the Bushkill Mountains 
do a g-reat deal of excellent backg-round work. It is true; and they 
are never tame or unsatisfying- from any point of view. Their g-reat 

heig-ht, nearly 4,000 
feet, and their bro- 
ken sky-line makes 
them always impres- 
sive. 

It is related that 
an applicant for the 
position of teacher 
in one of the neig-h- 
boring^ schools, on 
examination before 
the School Board 
was asked: "What 
mountains are loca- 
ted in the northern 
part of New York? " 
and straig-htway 
made answer, with more local patriotism than g-eographically exact- 
ness, "The Bushkill Mountains." The School Board, after a strug-- 
g-le between duty to the rising- g-eneration and local pride, decided 
not to accept this answer, and the fair applicant was "turned down." 




THE BRIDGE AT BRODHEAD'S, LOOKING WEST. 



FERRIS S HANDBOOK. 



45 



Close by the station, whicli is also the post office, are two houses 
BRODHEAD'S BRIDGE taking boarders, both just across the track 

P. O., ULSTER CO. N. Y. ^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^S^' , ^^ 

Miss Rachel Brodhead takes twelve. $/ . 

Edwin P. James has room for fifty. Apply. 

On the road to Shokan which crosses the track at the station, at 
the distance of a long- quarter of a mile, is H. Delamater's. Room for 
ten. Apply. 

The road following down the Esopus leads to Olive City (Olive 
Bridge P. O.), Tongore, Marbletown, Stone Ridge and so on to Lake 
Mohonk, which is a fine day trip from here, and many parties are 
made up during the summer to visit that noted resort. 

Just after leaving the station a road turns in to the right leading 
between Miss Brodhead's barn and the James house. About a mile 
on this road brings 
us to the crest of a 
knoll on which is 
James MacMillan's. 
Room for ten. Ap- 
ply- 

Passing down 
toward Olive City 
the store of Mr. 
D. W. Hover is 
found near by, and 
just beyond is his 
house with room for 
one hundred. $7. 

Sherman Allen's 

is next, on a branch brodhead-s bridge, looking north from the bridge. 
road turning to the 

right at the school house. This house is one mile from the station. 
Room for ten. $5. 

William Haver's is next, not far beyond the school house. 
Room for twenty. Apply. 

Olive Bridge P. O. is now at hand, one 
and one-fourth miles from the station at Brod- 
head's Bridge. Olive City is the name of 
the settlement. The post-office is in Locke's general store, at the 
corner where the Samsonville road turns off westward. By this 
road also, one may reach Krumville by turning to the south after 
passing Hollister's. 

Close by the store, on this road, is Hugh Locke's. Room for 
ten. Apply. 




OLIVE BRIDGE P. O., 
ULSTER CO., N. Y. 



46 



THE CATSKILLS. 



Lewis N. Hollister's is a mile out on this road. Room for 
twelve. Apply. 

At Krumville, four miles away, are the houses of Elisha Merrihew, 
with room for ten, and Benjamin Merrihew, with room for fifteen. 
Write them for terms, etc., to Krumville P. O., Ulster Co., N. Y. 

On the main road again, diag-onally across from the store is 
Virg-il Bishop's. Room for ten. Apply. 

On towards the falls, and at the foot of the hill up which g-oes 
the Tongore road, is C. Winne's. Room for eight. $6. 

The road going 
down along the brook 
and thence along the 
creek leads past the 
mills to the bridge 
from which a fine 
view of the falls may 
be had. At high 
water in the Spring 
or after a heavy rain, 
Bishop's Falls, as it 
is called, is very fine, 
and, except in a very 
dry season, when 
the mills are using 
all the water, it is 
always worth a visit. 
Taking the Tongore road up the hill from Winne's, we must 
pause at the top to enjoy the grand view northward, which includes 
the falls and a long stretch of the creek above them. 

Just over the top of the hill is De Forest Bishop's, two miles 
from the station at Brodhead's Bridge. Room for twenty. Apply. 

N. K. Davis's is nearly half a mile further, passing the Metho- 
dist Church on the way. Room for twelve. Apply. 
Jefferson Roosa's is next. Room for fifteen. $5. 
Jacob V. Merrihew's is next. Room for ten. 
Here a road turns off to the right leading to three more houses. 
Willis Davis takes ten. $5 and $6. 
T. W. Cornish takes ten. Apply. 
Walter North takes fifteen. $6. 

All this Tongore country is high and commands fine views from 
many points of outlook. 

Five miles beyond is Mrs. T. W. Roosa's at Kripple Bush P. O. 
Room for eight. $7. 




BISHOP'S FALLS, OLIVE BRIDGE. 



FgRRIs'S HANDBOOK. 



47 




Z. p. BOICE'S MILL YARD,— WEST SHOKAN BEYOND. BUSHKILL MOUNTAINS 
IN THE BACKGROUND. 



CHAPTER XII 



SHOKAN 



EAVING Brodhead's Bridge, the train starts on the last half- 
mile of the g-reat curve which beg^an four miles away, beyond 
Brown's station, and now swings fairly round among the moun- 
tains. High Point, which has been directly ahead for so many miles, 
is now on the left, looming up in magnificent proportions, graceful 
as well as massive, against the western sky. This great mountain 
covers an area of over twelve square miles and its top is 3,098 feet 
above the sea level. The view from its summit is grand; esteemed 
by some climbers above that from the Overlook. What may be 
seen is recounted in the following chapter. The trail is not diffi- 
cult and many visitors make a special trip to Shokan every Sum- 
mer to make the ascent. 

The majestic dome of Tysteneyck has been rounded and it is now 
east of us instead of north as at Brown's Station. Though not 
often visited there is a fine view to be had from its summit, 2600 
above tide. It may be reached easiest by riding up into the pass 
between Toinje Hook and Tysteneyck and following up a wood road 
which goes nearly to the top. The view toward the Overlook, In- 



48 



THE CATSKILLS. 




dian Head and Twin Mountain is very impressive, the mountains 
seeming" very near and very high. Woodstock lies at one's feet, and 

the whole Woodstock 
Valley is spread out 
in full view. 

Just ahead of the 
train, as it speeds 
across the meadows 
between Brodhead's 
and Shokan, is a sin- 
g-ular plateau, nearly 
level, and fifty feet or 
more above the mead- 
ow extending- across 
the valley from east 
to west. This is 
known locally as the 

THE END OF THE GREAT CURVE IN THE CUT THROUGH THE OLD Dickouberg", dOUbt- 

SAND-BAR— ENTERING SHOKAN. MT. PLEASANT MTN. IN n name P^iven iu 

THE DISTANCE. _ _ » 

derision, "berg'"sig-- 
nifying mountain, but the orig"in of the name has been wholly lost 
and as the pronunciation of berg- was broad and flat, — almost " bar- 
rack," which is now reduced to "back," — Dickonback, — a story is 
now offered which fits well the new, and doesn't explain at all the 
old name. This "berg" is probably a g-reat sand bar, — a relic of 
the mighty river which doubtless rolled out upon the plains of Sho- 
kan from this great watershed of six hundred square miles in the 
days when the Catskill g-laciers melted before the rays of the newly 
unclouded sun; — the river whose deepest channel is now marked 
by the mettlesome Esopus which still g-athers its waters from Peak- 
amoose and Slide Mountain, from Big Indian and Belle Ayr, from 
the g-reat West Kill chain and the southern slopes of Hunter, from 
Stony Clove, Mink Hollow and the Overlook group, not to mention 
the nearer and more obvious sources. 

Throug-h this old sandbar the railroad cuts its way, and, passing- 
it, the peculiar beauty of the scenery of Shokan is spread before us. 
Nowhere else in the Catskills does the peaceful level of wide meadow 
lands combine so delig-htfuUy with the uplifted slopes of hig-h moun- 
tains, which dispose themselves in chains, peaks and passes around 
three-fourths of the sky line. It is no wonder that hundreds of city folk 
come here year after year for the season of rest. It is safe to prophesy 
that this Shokan country will some day be filled with private cottages 
for which there are sites innumerable. The purest of mountain air 
and water are here in abundance and the scenery is unexcelled. 



FERKIS S HANDBOOK. 



49 




NEW STATION AT SHOKAN. MT. PLEASANT MTN. IN THE DISTANC E 
TO THE RIGHT, SAMUEL'S POINT TO THE LEFT OF THE BUILDING. 



The handsome new station finished last fall has added much to 
the attractiveness of the place, the old building- having been demol- 
ished, and the 
grounds nicely 
graded. The 
station is at 
West Shokan 
village, a mile 
west of Shokan 
proper , — or 
"old Shokan" 
as it is often 
called. 

The post-office 
is at the store of 
Mathews and 
North close by 
the station ; 
the larg-est gen- 
eral store for many miles, in a larg-e and handsome building. 

Taking this section first, being the near- 
est, let us go westward from the station up 
the main street. There are several houses 
close at hand with a welcome for all comers till filled, — and after- 
ward " at a pinch." 

Mrs. O. A. Phillips is the nearest. Room for twelve. $6 to $8. 

Next door is the residence of Dr. Van Gaasbeek, the villag-e 
physician. 

Mrs. J. Hoyt is across the street. Room for six. Apply. 

E. R. Mathews's well-known Mountain Gate House is next, 
accommoda t i n g- 
twenty. This 
popular stopping- 
place i s com- 
pletely surround- 
ed with fruit 
trees, which af- 
ford g-rateful 
shade and pro- 
vide sturdy bran- 
ches, swinging- 
low for the ham- 
mocks. Fresh 
vegetables and mountain gate house, e. r. mathews. 



WEST SHOKAN P. O. 
ULSTER CO., N. Y. 







50 



THE CATSKILLS. 



fruit, milk, butter and eggs and other country dainties are produced 
on the place under the watchful eye of Mr. Mathews, whose g-ener- 
ous propensities find agreeable occupation in making- his g-uests 
comfortable and happy. Terms S6 to SS 

Watson Bishop's is 100 yards further on at the corner. Room 
for ten. S6 and S7. 

The main street ends here in a road running- nearly north and 
south, — northward to Watson Hollow and Peakamoose ; southward 
to Brodhead's Bridge, etc 

Turning to the left, — toward Brodhead's, — a branch road also 
turning to the left, leads to John Ennist's " Silver Brook House," 
not far from the railroad. Silver Brook, a favorite trout stream. 




A VIEW FROM WEST RIDGE. 

Tysteneyck at the Left, Little Toinje and Big Toinje Next, Then Beaverkill Mtn. 
West Shokan in the Middle Distance. Hesley's House in the Trees at the Right. 



running through the door-yard, on its way to Happy Valley. 
This house may be reached much more directly by following 
the railroad track down, if one is on foot. Room for twenty. $6 
and $7. 

A quarter of a mile further on the Brodhead's Bridge road, where 
it crosses the railroad, is Ira F. Davis's with room for fifteen. $7. 
This house may also be reached by the track at a saving of consider- 
able distance. 

Returning to the end of the main street at Watson Bishop's we 
may resume our journey northward toward Watson Hollow, 

Close by is L. Roosa's. Room for ten. $6. 



FERRIS S HANDBOOK 



51 



A few rods beyond is the Baptist Church whose square white 
tower is a landmark visible from almost any lookout in the vicinity. 
Here the road leading- up on to West Ridg^e turns off. It also leads 
to and through the line old maple g"rove of Martin H. Crispell, a fa- 
vorite picnic ground and the scene of weekly " hops " during the sea- 
son. Thence on along a charming- bit of picturesque country road, 
and up the hill. 

At the fork take the left hand road to A. S. Lyons's, half a mile 
away. Room for ten. Apply. 

Russell Eckert's is just beyond Lyons's. Room for ten. $6. 

The rig-ht hand road at the fork leads to J. J. Hesley's Fair View 
House, on West Ridge which is a bench, or narrow plateau, extend- 
ing^ along the eastern slopes of South Mountain and Hig-h Point for 
three miles or more, five hundred feet above the village. "Fair 




THE WITTENBERG. SAMUELS' POINT. 

NORMAN CRISPELL'S HOUSE. 



View" occupies a commanding- spot on this ridge. From the ver- 
andah the broad Shokan plain is in full view, the villag-e of West 
Shokan spread across it among^ the trees Beyond, rising from the 
lowland near West Hurley we see the Beaverkill Mountain on the ex- 
treme right. Next, passing- toward the left, is Big- Toinje and Little 
Toinje then Tysteneyck, Mink Mountain, Mt. Tobias (at Lake 
Hill) Plateau Mountain, Hunter Mountain, Mt. Tremper, Oak 
Mountain, Mt. Pleasant Mountain, Samuels's Point, Cross Moun- 
tain, the Wittenberg-, Mt. Cornell. The slopes of South Moun- 
tain cut off a further view in that direction. Toward the south 
and southeast the view extends over a vast rolling- plain dotted 
with farm houses and bounded in the distance by the Berkshire 
Hills of Massachusetts, forty miles away. This is a noble pan- 



52 



THE CATSKILLS. 



orama ever presenting- new beauties as the play of lig"ht and shade 
varies. 

"Fair View House" is new and affords shelter for ten guests 
whose comfort is carefully looked after by motherly Mrs. Hesley. 
Apply for terms. 

Returning- to the Baptist Church, we take the road toward Wat- 
son Hollow ag-ain. 

Norman Crispell's is a few rods up the road on the left, pleas- 
antly situated among- tall maple trees near the roadside, and boast- 
ing- of a pond for rowing familiarly called " The Lake." Here too are 
swings and a croquet ground, a trout brook in the back yard and 




THE BURGHER HOUSE. 



various other attractions, — altogether a popular house, surrounded all 
summer long with groups of happy children. The house accommo- 
dates forty guests and Mrs. Crispell and her corps of helpers labor 
early and late to make the sojourn here a pleasant one. $6 to $7. 

A short quarter of a mile beyond, a road turns to the right 
leading across to the bridge over the Bushkill at Weidner's and 
Schmidt's. Beyond this corner a short half-mile is a road turning 
to the left to Thompson Eckert's who has room for twenty-five. 
$6 and $7. 

The Burgher House is a mile beyond, near the entrance to Wat- 
son Hollow with its noted trout-stream. We are now two miles from 
the station and well within the circle of great mountains which head 



FERRIS S HANDBOOK. 



53 



the valley here. The scenery is wild and majestic all around, the 
Burg-her farm disputing- title with the forest and holding- its own only 
through persistent occupancy. There are two houses, sheltering- 
fifty guests. The farm and dairy supply the freshest and sweetest 
of country edibles in abundance, and a well-appointed livery con- 
tributes its share to the enjoyments of the season. Two mails daily 
are received and two despatched from this house. Stages meet all 
trains. Terms $6 to $10. Address J. M. and M. Burgher, Shokan, 
N. Y. 

Eli Burgher's is near by. Room for fifteen. Apply. 

This is the last boarding house on this road, which now winds 
into the beautiful Watson Hollow, a famous resort for fishermen fot 
many years. For 
two miles we follow 
beside the rushing 
brook. South Moun- 
tain on the left and 
the gentler slopes of 
Hanover Mountain 
on the right. We 
get a glimpse of 
High Point up Ke- 
nape Hollow, and 
then begin to climb 
up the steeps o f 
Mombaccus Mount- 
ain. The road is not 
only steep but stony, 
but so much better 

than it used to be that only those who have never travelled it think 
of grumbling at its present " improved" condition. Just after mak- 
ing the turn to the right after crossing the bridge on the Kenape 
Hollow stream, a momentary glimpse is caught, looking down 
through Watson Hollow and over Yankeetown, showing Overlook, 
Indian Head, Mink Mountain and the Hollow, and Plateau Moun- 
tain with Mt. Tobias nearer, — from twenty to twenty-five miles 
distant. A short distance further we turn sharply to the left and 
enter "The Gulf." This is a deep valley with mountains on 
either side so steep as to be precipitous. Indeed much of their 
slopes are vertical ledges and cliffs. It is one of the wildest spots 
in the region. 

For about two miles we traverse a forest unbroken except by the 
road. Hug^e rocks, detached from the cliffs a thousand feet up above 
us, lie all about where they rolled when they came down. Imagina- 




THE BUSHKILL, NEAR BURGHER'S. 



54 



THE CATSKILLS. 




THE GULF IN WINTER. 



tion fails to realize 
the awful crash as 
one of these tremen- 
dous blocks weig-hing- 
hundreds of tons 
breaks loose with a 
roar and plung^es 
down into the depths 
below, mowing- down 
^--reat trees as if they 
were grass, and grind- 
ing- to powder the 
rocks in its path. 

Down in the bot- 
tom of this gorge is a 
brook, scarcely more 
than a moistness at 
first, but g-radually gaining, until here and there are little cupfuls of 
water. The remarkable display of moss attracts one's attention. The 
Splintered, sharp-edged rocks are covered with a thick bossed mantle 
of the most beauteous g-reen. It spreadsover everything near by, run- 
ning- far up on old log-s and tree trunks, and leaving only little basins 
of water in which the reflection is scarcely to be distinguished from 

the real. This con- 
tinues until we reach 
Peakamoose Lake, a 
long- narrow lakelet 
with forest setting-. 
At the lower end a 
few acres of land 
have been partially 
cleared and among 
the trees have been 
built the club house 
and cottages of the 
Peakamoose Fishing 
Club. From the 
heights of Peaka- 
moose Mountain the 
Rondout Creek comes 
down just back of the club house, through one of the most beautiful g-lens 
in the world. Nothing else in the Catskills approaches it in its pe- 
culiar type. For a mile it is a succession of impressive pictures with 
cascades and waterfalls innumerable, living pictures of living water. 




PEAKAMOOSE LAKE. 



FERRIS S HANDBOOK. 



55 



From the crag- which stands behind the houses a fine view of the 
lake is had, and a grand vista down the clove of the Rondout, look- 
ing^ toward the famous Neversink country. A more charming- spot 
for a summer rest could not be found. 

Returning" to the railroad station for a new start we may take 
the road running- northward, — up the track, — on which at a distance 
of a quarter of a mile we pass Henry Schmidt's, a favorite resort for 
German people. Room for one hundred. Apply. 

Here is a bridge to cross, over the Bushkill, and we come to 
C. H. Weidner's in a fine grove on a plateau to the left. Room for 
twenty-five. $7 and $8. 




C. M. WEIDNER'S, WEST SHOKAN, N. Y. 



A little beyond there is a branch road turning- up the hillside 
toward the left, leading- to Capt. House's, half a mile from this 
point. This place has a fine pond fed by a trout brook. Room for 
sixteen. Apply. 

A quarter of a mile further on the main road — one mile from the 
station, — is Isaac Davis's. Room for fifteen. $6 and S7. 

Half a mile further, — and the longest half, — is Lewis Boice's. 
Room for ten. Apply, 

A quarter of a mile beyond is E. E. Bedell's on a bluff to the 
left. Room for twelve. $6. 

From here can be seen the houses at Boiceville, half a mile 
away. 

Again returning- to the station we take the main street eastward 
toward Shokan. 



56 



THE CATSKILLS. 




Just across the track is the Hamilton House, the village hotel. 

C. E. Miller is the present proprietor. Accommodations for fifty. 

Transients, $1.50 a day. Special rates for a long-er stay. Good livery. 

Herman Bell's is 100 yards away. Room for ten. $6. 

Across the street from Herman Bell's is Pythian Hall, with the 

1 o d §• e rooms 
above and a 
convenient din- 
ing-room and 
kitchen be- 
ne at h. The 
hall seats three 
hundred, has a 
stage with the- 
atrical fixings, 
scenery, &c., 
and is often in 
use during the 
season. 

Back of Py- 
thian Hall is Za- 
doc P. Boice's 
mill for manufacturing barrel-heads, and incidently turning timber 
into various grades and kinds of lumber. His large yard is a sight 
when full of logs, — a prostrate forest. 

A. Van Benschoten's is on a branch road running north, and 
half a mile from the station. This house is located out in the open 
meadow-land commanding fine views in all directions, but sheltered 
by an orchard of vigorous apple trees, whose wide-spread branches 
invite to "lolling" on the grass beneath. It is said by those who 
should know that at this house "solid comfort" is dispensed "in 
chunks." Room for- fifteen. $6 to $8. 

Just beyond, on the main road, is the long bridge over the 
Esopus and at this end of it a road turning to the right, following 
the Creek leads to Brodhead's Bridge, Olive City and Bishop's Falls. 
On this road 300 yards down is Mrs. Susan Phraner's. Room for 
twelve. Apply. 
Crossing the 

SHOKAN P. O. 
ULSTER CO., N. Y 



CAPT. HOUSE'S. 
Samuel's Poiut iti the background. 



The road 
post-ofl&ce, 
Boiceville, 



bridge we are in Shokan proper, 
winding to the right leads to the 
and the village ; the left road to 
Cold Brook, Mt. Pleasant and Phoenicia, — a de- 
lig-htful drive. On this road are two houses belonging to Shokan. 

Henry Boice's is nearly a mile from the bridge. He has room 
for twentv. S6 to $9. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 57 

C. E. Krom's house is next, standing- back from the road and 
nearly hidden by the orchard. Room for twenty. $6 to $10. 

Returning- now to the bridg-e we take the rig-ht hand road to the 
villag-e around the hill on which the churches stand, the Reformed 
church first on the left, with a pointed steeple, the Methodist church 



VIEW OF SHOKAN FROM HILL NEAR EVERY'S 

The Bushkill Mts., or Wittenberg Chain, in the backgroviud; the Wittenberg on the extreme 
right, partially cut off by border line. South Mtu. ou the left. Watson Hollow leading to the 
left around South Mtu. The Esopus Creek in the foreground. 

next with a square tower. On the right, in the hollow, is Mayer's 
Tannery, a lonely relic of bygone days when the mountains here- 
abouts were prolific of the necessary bark. 

Turning- to the left up the shady street between the churches, we 
come first to L. Boice's. Room for ten. Apply. 

D. C. Davis's is next, across the road. Room for twenty. $6 to 
$8. 

Next is Mrs. Cobbe's at the top of the " Sand Hill," with room 
for ten. $6 to $8. 

From here to the station is a g-ood mile, and just a few rods be- 
yond is Mrs. Susan Eichler's. Room for sixty. $7 and $8. 

Keeping- on up the hills for half a mile more we reach Mrs. F. 
Dunnag-an's. Room for twenty. $6 and $7. 

A hundred yards further is Og-den Dunnag-an's with room for 
fifteen. S6. 

These two houses and Mrs. Eichler's are up on the slopes of 
Toinje Hook (Hoek is the old Dutch spelling) and there are several 



58 THE CATSKILLS. 

clearing's up above them, reaching^ nearly to the summit, from which 
g-rand views are obtained. Hig-h Point is best seen from here and 
West Shokan is in full view spread across the valley in most charm- 
ing rural beauty. 

Returning- to the churches we have only to cross the main street 
to Winchell's store to find the post-office. The main street leads to, 
Olive Branch and thence to Woodstock by one road, or to Kingston^ 
by another. 

On the westerly side of the store building- a road crosses a short 
bridg-e over Butternut Brook and winds up the hill and over it toward 
Brown's Station and Winchell's Falls. 

The first house on this road is W. D. Kvery's. Room for twelve. 
Apply. 

Richard Cole's is half a mile further on this road. Room for 
fifteen. S6 to $7. 

Between Kvery's and Cole's the road climbs over a hill from the 
top of which we get a very fine view of West Shokan with the Bush- 
kill Mountains in the background, in magnificent array. 

Half a mile beyond Cole's is Oliver Davis's. Room for twenty. 
$7. Address Brodhead's Bridge P. O. 

John Rainey's is close by. Room for twenty. S5 to $7. Address 
Brodhead's Bridge P. O. 

Returning now to the Shokan P. O. we may take the main street 
tow^ard Kingston, a picturesque country road winding up the valley 
beside the pretty Butternut Brook, the houses lying principally on 
the left, but here and there one across the brook, with a neat bridge 
over the ravine ; altogether a homelike and delightful village where 
many visitors enjoy a peaceful rest every season. 

The first house from the post-office, about two hundred yards 
distant is Jonathan Ennist's. Room for thirty. Apply. 

Next door is G. M. Everett's. Room for ten. $5 to $7. 

A few rods further is C. A. Davis's. Room for twelve. $6 and S7. 
. Just beyond here a road turns off to the left leading to John D. 
Ennist's. Room for twenty. Apply. 

Next is John DuBois's, a mile from the station. Room for ten. 
Apply. 

Then comes Jas. M. Eckert's with room for ten. S5 and $7. 

Mrs. A. M. Harlow's is next. Room for fifteen. S5 and $7. 

Mrs. John Windrum's is next, a mile and a half from the station. 
Room for twenty. $5 and $6. 

Mrs. P. Britt's is a quarter of a mile farther up the hill. Room 
for twenty. Apply. 

Keeping on up this road the summit is reached at half a mile, — 
the " Hog's Back" mentioned under Olive Branch. 



FERRIS S HANDBOOK. 59 

The roads about Shokan and West Shokan are usually good and 
driving- in any direction is rewarded with tine views of mountain 
scenery not excelled by any in the Catskill region. The greatest 
variety is found, from the peacefully rural of old Shokan to the ma- 
jestic wildness of the "Gulf." The trip to Lake Mohonk may be 
made in one day with an early start. 

Many delightful walks are within the powers of the most deli- 
cate. Happy Valley, a favorite picnic place, a charming meadow 
with groups of trees and traversed by three brooks ; the Bridal Veil 
Falls on the Buckabone ; the great cleft or crevice on the " toe" of 
High Point, five hundred feet deep, and many others. For the stur- 
dier trampers, there are the mountains. The Wittenberg and even 
Slide Mountain can be made in a day's tramp. High Point may be 
made with buckboard, or saddle horses, nearly to the top. Samuel's 
Point and Tysteneyck offer other desirable views and Mount Trem- 
per at Mount Pleasant is not too much for one day. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

HIGH POINT. 

ASCENT IN WINTER. 

P came the sun this March morning as into a sphere of purest 
crystal. Not a breath of vapor from the horizon to the zanith 
tarnished the pale gold rays, which cut out, with microscopic 
sharpness, each rock and stub and plume of evergreen upon the slopes 
which buttress the giant crests about the Shokan plains. Clear and 
serene, High Point seemed to invite to its wonderful outlook, and 
the thought was scarcely outlined before the decision followed, — to 
go, and at once, — for the snow-crust would not be hard many hours, 
and except upon the crust the trip would be impossible. Breakfast 
was not to be thought of, so a handful of biscuit was hastily thrust 
into each pocket and we are off. 

The way up High Point is no longer a trail. Hundreds make 
the ascent every summer and it is now a well marked road passable 
for buckboards for more than half the way. At this season it may 
be traced from the plain as a fine continuous white line among the 
bare forest trees, starting in on the slope of South Mountain, and 
running up the side at an angle of about thirty degrees, to the 



60 



THE CATSKILLS. 



height of land near the head of Kenape Hollow where it is no longer 

visible. 

The nig-ht has been cold and the mercury stands at twenty 
degrees, with not so much as a whisper of a breeze. It is one of 
the "mountain days" of the year, — dry, absolutely clear and the 
g-oing above criticism; such a day as only mountain climbers know 
how to appreciate and enjoy to the full. 

AVe take a bee-line for the foot of the trail over the crusted fields. 
There is a peculiar exhilaration in walking upon a stout crust of 
snow, the usual roughness of a cross-country path all smoothed away, 
the meadow brooks gurgling along unseen under a bridge of ice, and 
here and there a little stony hummock clad in bronzed wintergreen, 
bright with scarlet berries. There is a mile of this, and then the 




HIGH POINT FROM THE SHOKAN PLAINS. 

The Great Cleft is seen at the left. West Ridge in sight back of 
large Cottage, 



climb of two miles begins. The creepers are snapped on, for an icy, 
thirty-degree grade is not to be done without them. Here in the 
forest the snow is deeper, a matter of no moment unless a soft spot is 
trod upon, when three crusts give way successively and we find the 
depth to be nearly three feet. 

How different are these woods from their familiar summer habit! 
No moss, nor rocks, nor ferns; all the undergrowth invisible and the 
whole groundwork one smooth, shining, sparkling sweep of sleeted 
snow; the edges of every ledge and crag softened into folds, and the 
deep gray tree trunks in sharpest contrast with the glistening white. 
Scarcely noticeable is the tracery of shadow from the branches above, 
and where in summer hung broad masses of shade, dark and cool, all 
now is a blaze of whitest light in which even shadows are pale. It is 
a beauty unlike any other. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 61 

Up, and up, and still up. The work begins to tell now and the 
perspiration starts from the brow to be frozen at once into crystal 
beads. Now and again comes a brief halt for breath, and deep 
draughts of the " purest air in the world" persuade one that in truth 
it is good enough to eat. The forsaken breakfast is never missed, 
and the biscuits are ignored. 

Soon the top of this grade is reached, and there is a nearly level 
stretch of a quarter of a mile along the top of the narrow ridge which 
runs from South Mountain across the head of Kenape Hollow to High 
Point. As we walk along we look down through this hollow into 
Watson Hollow, famous among fishermen for its trout brooks. On the 
farther side of Watson Hollow rise the buttresses of Breath Hill, 
which would be a " mountain " but for its towering neighbors. Just 
back of .this is Little Balsam Mountain, and capping the massive 
cluster is Big Balsam or Peakamoose Mountain, 3,875 feet above tide 
water. The highest peak of the Catskill group is only 350 feet higher 
than this giant. This is toward the right. Toward the left of the 
ridge we look down upon the great Shokan plains, with the village of 
West Shokan spread out across it. It is this wide plain that gives 
the Shokan country its peculiar beauty. Old Shokan is seen beyond, 
clustering along the road which winds up over a spur of Toinje Hook 
on its way to the City of Kingston, eighteen miles away, and quite 
distinctly visible to the unaided eye. Over the city and far beyond 
the Hudson the horizon is bounded by the summit of the Berkshire 
Hills, a clean, sharp outline of the daintiest blue against a sky also 
blue, and yet so pale as only to be described as "invisible " blue. 
The notable peak rising above the general level is Mount Everett, 
the southern end of the Berkshires in Massachusetts. 

Time is called and on we go, passing the old log cabin built by 
George H. Lewis, at one time our State Printer, and occupied by 
him for many summers. From the door-step of this cabin there is 
an unbroken outlook toward the east for forty miles and one can but 
faintly imagine the glories of a fine sunrise viewed from this spot. 

Now the grade grows steep again and more rugged than before, 
in spite of the mantle of snow. Great chips and blocks from the 
crags aT)Ove lie about in wild confusion on every side. The pauses 
for breath come oftener, and the air is keen with an edge that the 
genial sun, now well up, fails to remove. Collars are turned up and 
coats snugly buttoned and away we go again, over the unbroken 
crust. Some signs of life arouse interest. In the icy sheet the 
tracks of a panther made yesterday, while the snow was soft, are 
plainly apparent, and there is a feeling of genuine satisfaction that 
his time-table and ours differ a few hours. Crossing the trail in 
several places is the track of a wild cat, perhaps more than one, — 



62 THE CATSKILLS. 

but one at a time is plenty, — and in one spot a convention of six 
or eig-ht partridg-es have left a huddle of claw marks. A faint croak 
overhead calls attention to a flock of crows flying- northward and so 
hig-h as to be scarcely visible. 

All mundane things come to an end, and the last furlong is 
passed over and the summit g-ained. At first the view wanders over 
the immense expanse of lowland toward the east, south and south- 
west one great field of snow spotted with bits of vag-rant forest. 
High Point is the southernmost peak of the Catskill group, so that 
the view in this direction is limited only by the possible reach of 
human vision. One is impressed with the thoug-ht of the millions 
of happy and self supporting homes which might be established over 
this vast territory in sig-ht, with its widely scattered population, to 
the o-reat relief of the congestion of humanity in the Greater New 
York. Here is a chance for the most humane kind of a benevolent 

society. 

A g-limmer of water catches the eye far to the southeast. It is a 
bit of the Hudson at the lower end of Newburgh Bay, end this is 
the only view we g-et of the open river. On the hitherward side of 
this bright gleam is the isolated mountain pile on which are the 
well known summer resorts Lake Mohonk and Lake Minnewaska, 
and the much larg-er and hig-her Lake Aioskawasting-, a wild spot 
of rare beauty, still awaiting- development. West of this group is 
the low range of the Shawang-unk Mountains,- in the vernacular 
the "Shongums," and still further west we see the land g-radually 
rising to the plateaus of Sullivan Co., in the reg-ion of Monticello. 
Here and there all throug-h the plains at our feet winds the Esopus, 
a roaring torrent whose voice we cannot hear from these heig-hts 
but the sig-ht of the masses of white foam which mark its course 
tell the story. The summer visitor who delig-hts in its peaceful 
murmur cannot realize its fierceness when the spring rains swell it 
until it bursts its cloak of ice, perhaps sixteen inches thick, into 
millions of immense fragments and goes tearing- down toward the sea. 

Toward the north the scene is wholly different. From the pre- 
cipitous outline of the Overlook Mountain in the northeast, all the 
way round to Mombaccus Mountain in the southwest, is a succession 
of high mountain summits from 3000 to 4200 feet hig-h, each with 
a noble outline peculiarly its own, — an array that defies description. 
"We must leave it to the artist to g-ive what can be only the faint- 
est idea of this view, — a sug-g-estion only of its extent, for the out- 
look from this mountain is recog-nized by tourists who have seen 
the .world as one of its g-rand views. 

After a brief halt, during- which the artist makes his sketch, 
and the remainder of the party shiver, the descent is beg-un. The 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 



63 



creepers are removed, and sliding- attempted with great success. A 
treacherous place in the crust gives way now and then, or the branch 
of a stubby tree whirls one of the sliders around, and various unex- 
pected positions are assumed ; but the grand slide continues without 
regard to position, or dignity, and an excited and breathless g^roup 
comes to a halt at the log cabin, luckily with no accidents to report. 




MOUNTAIN OUTLINE FROM HIGH POINT, FROM THE WEST AROUND BY THE NORTH 

TO THE EASTERN END OF THE GROUP. SKETCHED BY THE AUTHOR, 

MARCH 11, 1897. 



A A A A 


Plateau of Sullivan Co. 


B 


Diamond Notch. 


I, I 


Mombaccus Mountain. 


18 


Timothy Berg. 


2 


Peakamoose. 


19 


Karlberg. 


3 


Table Mountain. 


20 


Hunter Mountain. 


4 


Breath Hill. 


C 


Stony Clove. 


5 


Fifth Mountain. 


21 


Plateau Mountain. 


6 


Fourth Mountain. 


22 


Mt. Tobias. 


7 


Slide Mountain. 


D 


Mink Hollow. 


8 


Spruce Top. 


23 


Mink Mountain. 


9 


Hanover Mountain. 


24 


Twin Mountain. 


10 


Mt. Cornell. 


25 


Indian Head. 


II 


The Wittenberg. 


26 


Tysteneyck. 


12 


Cross Mountain. 


27 


Plattekill Mountain. 


13 


Samuels' Point. 


28 


Overlook Mountain. 




PantherMountain just above 13. 


29 


Little Toinje. 


14 


Mt. Pleasant. 


30 


Big Toinje. 


15 


North Dome. 


31 


Beaverkill Mountain. 


i6 


Big Westkill Mountain. 


32 


Green Mountains, Vt, 


17 


Mt. Tremper. 


E 


The Hudson River Valley. 



From here the level must be traversed and the snow having- 
softened somewhat, the crust no longer bears, so after struggling- 
along over our knees in snow thirty inches deep, it is proposed that 
we try " all fours a la bear." This proves practicable and the tracks 
left are doubtless the puzzle of the day to the wild creatures who 
have run across them. 

Upon reaching the top of the slope on South Mountain, we ag-ain 
assume the upright posture, and resume the slide, which, from the 



64 THE CATSKILLS. 

wider crail is less exciting- and more enjoyable. The descent of a 
mile is made in ten minutes. The tramp back across the fields seems 
tame after this unique experience, but we arrive at home in time for 
a ten o'clock breakfast, three hours and a half from the start, with 
an appetite which yields reluctantly to the persuasions of buckwheat 
cakes and new maple syrup. 

We are surprised to find that not even a hunter will confess 
to having- been on Hig-h Point in winter since 1892, and our trip 
is the subject of interested comment. From its ease of access it 
offers a pleasant recreation out of the usual line to the clubs of 
mountain climbers, who cannot fail to find it novel as well as 
enjoyable. 






CHAPTER XV. 



BOICEVILLE, 



LEAVING Shokan station, we cross the Bushkill within half a 
mile and the traveller with the g-eolog-ical turn of mind will 
note another " sand-bank" on the left, extending- almost with- 
out a break for two miles, and eventually butting- against Samuels' 




M. H. DAVIS'S AT BOICEVILLE. 
Oak Mountain in the background Esopus Creek in the foreground. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 



65 




APPROACHING BOICEVILLE. 



Point, which rises above Boiceville on the west. A g-lance at the 
mountains will show the curves which produced the slack water 
where this sand bank is, and favored its formation. 

Traver Hollow lies between Samuels' Point and Mt. Pleasant 
Mountain, and if one could look throug-h Cross Mountain across the 
head of this hol- 
low, it would be 
into Woodland 
Valley which 
opens toward the 
north a mile be- 
yond Phoenicia. 

Nearing" Boice- 
ville we find the 
valley much nar- 
rower than at 
Shokan and the 
scenery wholly 
c h a n g- e d . We 
cross the Eso- 
pus, here a wide 

stretch of raging- flood, or a bed of dry rock and stones, according 
to the season and the previous weather, and come quickly to a halt 
at the station. There is a large excelsior mill here with its conven- 
tional rows of employes cottages, and immense piles of wood wait- 
ing to be shredded in the machines which run night and day from 
Monday morning to Saturday evening. 

At this station there are not many board- 
ing houses. Within a stone's throw of the 
station toward the east is J. L. Patchin's. 
Room for twenty-five. $6 and $7. 

Across the road — which leads south to Shokan and north to 
Mount Pleasant, — is R. D. Patchin's with room for twenty. $6 
and $7. 

Up the railroad track is a curious looking high stone bridge over 
which passes the road from the mill to connect with the Shokan road 
previously mentioned. 

Near the eastern end of this bridge is the road leading up the 
hill to A. L. Snyder's. Room for twenty. $6. 

M. H. Davis's is the large white house to the left of the track 
seen from the high bridge. The usual way of approach for those on 
foot is up the track, across the railroad bridge and then a sharp turn 
to the left at the end of the bridge, — about a quarter of a mile from 
the station. Room for forty. $6. 



BOICEVILLE P, 
ULSTER CO., N 



66 THE CATSKILLS. 



1 




HIGH BRIDGE AT BOICEVILLE. 



Levi Bell's is a short distance beyond Davis's. Room for ten. 

Apply. 

Several points on the hills about here command fine views north- 
ward and southward. The place is a favorite resort for fisherman 
as there are several g-ood trout streams. 



■»§S€^«* 



CHAPTER XVI. 



COLD BROOK. 



ABOUT a mile beyond Boiceville is Cold Brook station at the 
western end of the new iron bridg-e recently built across the 
Esopus at this place. At the eastern end of this bridg-e is 
the road running- from Shokan to Mt. Pleasant on the easterly side 
of the creek, and the other road from Shokan which passes Schmidt's, 
Weidner's, Isaac Davis's, etc., and M. H. Davis's at Boiceville, comes 
out here at the station. 

From the bridg-e are fine views up and down the stream and the 

country about is wild and pretty. Turning- to the left as we g-o off 

the bridg-e, toward Mt. Pleasant, the first house 

BEECHFORD P. O.. ^^^ ^^^^ .^ ^^^ -^^^^ Winchell's. Room 

ULSTER CO., N. Y. 

for ten. Apply. 

Next is Mrs. J. L. Hasbrouck's about a quarter of a mile from 
the station. Room for twenty. Apply. 

A short distance further up the road is the post-office,— Beech- 
ford,— in the house of Mrs. Robt. Winne. Room for twenty-five. 

$6 and $7. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 67 

Wm. S. Winne has room for fifteen. $7 and $8. 

Within the two miles from here to Mt. Pleasant are several 
houses which are usually reached from the next station. Davis 
Winne's is not half a mile from the Beechford P. O. (See Mt. Pleas- 
ant for particulars of his house.) 

C. H. Cutler's is three miles away in the Yankeetown valley 
which has its head at Bearsville and opens here into the Esopus val- 
ley. A fine dashing- trout stream traverses it, emptying" here. The 
P. O. at Cutler's is Wittenberg-. Room for ten. Apply. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

MOUNT PLEASANT. 

THE CORNER, AND LAKE HILL. 

FROM Cold Brook station northward, the railroad follows the 
Esopus for a mile or more, at the foot of Mount Pleasant 
(mountain). The fact that both the mountain and the station 
bear the same name makes it necessary to distinguish them in this 
cumbersome way. The views toward the east are very pleasing-, — 
the Esopus being- in the immediate foreg-roundwith meadows beyond, 
an orchard here and there on the foothills and Mt. Tobias and Mt. 
Tremper prominent in the backg-round, the other mountains which 
bound De Vail Hollow affording- pleasant lines and shades of blue 
to complete the picturesque effect. Up on the ledg-es of Mt. Pleas- 
ant (mountain) above our heads are several quarries whence come 

r 




FROM MT. PLEASANT STATION NORTHWARD TOWARD PHOENICIA. 



68 



THE CATSKILLS. 



LONGYEAR P. O., 
ULSTER CO., N. Y. 



occasional puffs of smoke, followed by reverberating- reports which 
echo and re-echo across the valley. 

Suddenly the creek takes a wide bend toward the east, and, the 
railroad going- straig-ht on, we part company with the liveliest fea- 
ture of the landscape. The De Vail Hollow opening- toward the 
east g-ives a more and more distant view till when nearly to the sta- 
tion we see Twin Mountain with part of Indian Head on the rig-ht of 
it, and part of Mink Mountain on the left. Oleberg- stands broad- 
side to us on the left of Mink Mountain ; then Karlberg-, then Tim- 
othy Berg- and Mt. Tremper on the extreme left. To the rig-ht of 
distant Indian Head is Mt. Tobias with the Dunkerberg- nearer. 

The train pauses to permit us to resume careful exploration. 
We find that " Mt. Pleasant" is a sort of general name covering the 
region about the station and also the larger settlement half a mile 
away, beyond the Creek. The post-office name 
at the station is Longyear, and the office is at 
one end of the station. 
Just across the road is the Cockburn House in a grove of trees 
which approach so close to the track that tourists may easily im- 
agine that the train is a part of the dooryard attractions designed 
by Mr. Cockburn. In this spacious house is room for one hundred 
and twenty guests. Terms $10 to $12. Van B. Cockburn, proprietor. 
Mrs. J. B. Winne's is opposite the Cockburn House, across the 
track, on a handsome terrace. Room for twenty. Apply. 

Mrs. A. E. Cock- 
burn's is on the road 
which runs up this 
side of the Creek to 
Phoenicia, just where 
it crosses the track, 
about a quarter of a 
mile from the sta- 
tion. Room for fif- 
teen. Apply. 

Henry Short's is 
a mile beyond Mrs. 
Cockburn's. Room 
lor twenty-five. Ap- 
ply. 

The road to 

"The Corner" as 

the larger village at Mount Pleasant is called, runs eastward along 

the end of the Cockburn House and grounds, then crossing a little 

bridge over a mill-pond in which is a diminutive island (at high 




MRS. J. B. WINNE'S COTTAGE. 



FERRIS'S HAND-BOOK. 



69 



water) with a barbed wire fence around it. At first sig-ht this seems 
a needless protection unless ag-ainst bull-frogs and "sich," — but as 
the water recedes an isthmus appears offering- a hig^hwaj to the 
sportive cow who mig-ht devour the whole island and its contents. 

There is a short stretch to a bit of pine woods at ,the further 
end of which is Miss Ackerly's "Pine Grove House." Room for 
twenty. Apply. 

Thence around a curve to the left and 
across the Esopus by another bridg-e, and we 
enter the Shokan road opposite the Reformed church. On this road 
toward the rig-ht is the post-office close by. 

H. B. Hudler's is nearly a mile below the P. O. toward Shokan. 
Room for fifty. Apply. 

Davis Winne's is half a mile further, with room for fifty. $8. 



THE CORNER P. O 
ULSTER CO., N. Y. 




DAVIS WINNE'S, NEAR MT. PLEASANT 



Returning- to the church mentioned we g-o northward to " the 
corners." Here are four roads, — one to Woodstock, ten miles; one 
to Lake Hill, six miles; one to Phoenicia, four miles; and the one 
mentioned to Shokan, six miles. 

On the corner between the Lake Hill road and the Woodstock 
road is C. M. Lamson's house accommodating- forty. $7 to $10. 

Next to this house, on the Woodstock road, is the Baptist Church, 
and about a mile further is S. L. Saterlee's. Room for fifteen. Apply. 

Jacob Eichler's is on the corner between the Woodstock and 
Shokan roads. 

Elmer E. Lockwood's is opposite Eichler's. Room for six. Apply. 

On the corner between the Shokan and Phoenicia roads is the 
factory and mill of the Hudson River Reed Furniture Co., where a 
larg-e variety of fancy wicker work furniture is made. Passing- this 
mill we cross the bridge over the Shandaken Beaverkill. It is un- 
fortunate that there are so many streams called Beaverkill among the 



70 



THE CATSKILLS. 



mountains that at seems necessary to prefix the name of the town 
as is done in this case. As this brook comes from Mink Hollow, about 
eleven miles away, it would aid in the g-eog-raphical g-rasp of the 
regfion if this stream could have been named after its source. Just 
beyond the bridg-e a branch road turns sharply to the rig"ht leading- to 
two houses. 

Dr. H. B. Watson's is the first. Room for thirty. Apply. This 
was formerly the Lake House. 

Curtis North, a few rods further, has room for eig^ht. $7. 




WM. SCHUMACHERS, AT MOUNT PLEASANT. 
THE CORNER P. O. 



Returning- to the main road ag-ain at the bridg-e, we g-o on to- 
ward Phoenicia. Near at hand are Wm. Schumacher's two houses, 
with accommodations for fort}-. Apply. 

Henry Hoffman's is on this road half a mile further. Room for 
twenty-five. S6. 

This is the last house on this road till Phoenicia is reached. 

On the Lake Hill road are several houses, scattered all the way 
to and beyond the Lake Hill post-office. From Lamson's at the cor- 
ner the road runs along- the foot of the Dunkerberg- or Dipper Moun- 
tain. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 71 

S. S. Randall's is the first house about a quarter of a mile from 
Lamson's, three-quarters of a mile to the station. Room for twenty. 
Apply. 

Sherman Lockwood's is a quarter of a mile further. Room for 
twenty. Apply. 

Half a mile further is Jas. T. De Vall's. Room for six. Apply. 

But a short distance beyond we cross the lively little stream 
called the Drog-hkill, which comes down between Mt. Tremper, — for- 
merly called the Drog-hkill Mountain, — and Timothy Berg-, a stream 
noted for its purity and coldness, and so liked by trout that it is 
" alive with them." The property about this stream has been pur- 
chased lately by F. D. Storey, Esq., of New York, who is develop- 
ing- it. A dam has been built across the Drog-hkill making- a fine 
pond of several acres which will be devoted to trout culture, and in- 
cidentally to the pleasures of boating-. A handsome summer cottag-e 
will be erected this season to be followed, doubtless, by many others 
in this beautiful valley. 

M. A. De Vall's is the next house, two miles from the station. 
Room for ten. Apply. 

Kdwin A. De Vall's is half a mile further around a beautiful 
curve in the stream. Room for twenty. Apply. 

From here on the valley is quite narrow and the road runs beside 
the Beaverkill all the way, crossing- it several times. It is a pictur- 
esque and dashing- stream full of g-reat rocks and overhung- by large 
trees affording- many delig-htful bits for the artist and photographer. 
For half a mile more we make our way up the "hollow," the ground 
rising- g-radually but constantly, and then, rounding- a hill on the 
rig-ht, we come out unexpectedly into a broad, oblong valley sur- 
rounded on all sides with mountains of striking- outline and massive 
proportions. Directly ahead the Overlook stands high and great, 
with the hotel in plain sig-ht showing- its broad western side. Platte- 
kill Mountain is next toward the left, then Indian Head, Twin 
Mountain and then Oleberg- putting- out like a promontory into the 
valley and hiding- Mink Mountain and the Mink Hollow notch. The 
peaked spur which Oleberg- throws off toward the west is called Lit- 
tle Rocky, and its name seems peculiarly appropriate so far as the 
rocky is concerned. As the Karlberg- is sometimes called the Big- 
Rocky, the comparison is obvious. 

This fine oval valley is called the Little Shandaken Valley. At 
the end nearest, there is quite a settlement called West Woodstock. 
We take the left hand road at the first fork, to reach it. There are 
two churches here, Methodist and Wesleyan Methodist. 

Mrs. B. Broadie's is on the hillside just as we come into the val- 
ley. Room for six. Apply. 



72 THE CATSKILLS. 

Mrs. B. W. Hoyt's is up on the side of the Karlberg- commanding- 
a fine view, about half a mile from the churches, five miles from the 
LAKE HILL P O station at Mount Pleasant. Room for twenty- 

ULSTER CO., N. Y. ^^^- ^PP^^^- 

The road running- up the valley between 

Mrs. Hoyt's and Little Rocky leads over into Edg-ewood in the Stony 

Clove, about four miles. It is not always in g-ood condition. This 

little branch valley g-oes by the name of Silver Hollow. It lies on the 

southwesterly side of Oleberg- and just over this mountain, on the 

northeasterly side lies Mink Hollow. 

Returning to the churches we keep on around the northerly side 
of the valley as the houses taking boarders are on this road. 

Annie Short's is half a mile from the Wesleyan Church. Room 
for twenty. Apply. 

J. B. Eighmy's is half a mile further. Room for ten. $5 and $6. 

As we continue around Oleberg toward the entrance to Mink 
Hollow we find that this mountain has a sharp knife-edge, or like a 
wide chisel. From the side it looks flat with a top almost level; from 
the end it is sharp as if conical. 

A little further we come to the Lake Hill P. O. The road 
up the Mink Hollow is a short distance further on, but a cross-ctit 
over the fields in front of the post-office reduces the distance consid- 
erably. A quarter of a mile up the Mink Hollow road brings us to 
the Mink Hollow stream, famous for its trout. 

The first boarding house on this road is S. G. Wilber's, half 
a mile from the post-office, six miles and a half from Mt. Pleasant 
station. Room for thirty. $5 and $6. 

Walter Traub's is a quarter of a mile farther. Room for five. 
Apply. 

Perry Mosher's is next, just over the bridge. Room for twenty. 
$5 to $7. 

The scenery along this valley, — Mink Hollow, — is wildly beau- 
tiful, of the type peculiar to high mountain valleys partially subdued 
to the needs of a scanty farming population. The clearings reach 
up the steep slopes into the forests and bits of the original woods 
still hold stony or unpromising knolls and ravines. It is a delightful 
combination of opposites. Not far from Mosher's is the summer 
home of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Sully, in the midst of attractive scenic 
surroundings. 

The Wilber House is at the head of the hollow eight miles from 
Mt. Pleasant station. From the house one looks up at Mink Moun- 
tain (or Sugar Loaf as called by some) with its peculiar castle-like, 
turreted spur thrown out toward the south. The deep Mink Hollow 
Notch seems deeper than ever from here, and we are almost high 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 73 

enoug-h to see throug-h it into the Tannersville country just beyond. 
It is but four miles from this house to Elka Park. The road is 
passable, but more cannot be said of it unless repairs have been made 
since this was written. 

The Wilber House (R. R. Wilber, Proprietor) accommodates 
seventy-five. $7 to $8. 

Returning- to the post-office at Lake Hill we may continue east- 
ward, — toward Woodstock. 

Eg-bert Howland's is near by. Room for twenty. $5 and $6. 

A short half-mile away is Cooper's Lake, from which the post- 
office takes its name. 

M. Sag-endorf's is at the lake. Room for twenty. Apply. 

This road goes on two miles to Shady, in the Bristol Valley; 
and at this point we are but five miles from Mead's by that route. 
See Chapter IX. 

Returning- to Mt. Pleasant, before resuming- the railroad journey 
northward, a few words as to the ascent of Mount Tremper and what 
can be seen from the summit may be of interest to mountain climb- 
ers. The way up is beg-un at the northern end of the bridg-e at 
Ecker's mill, passing- Dr. Watson's and Curtis North's and keeping- on 
up this road to the blacksmith's shop. Turn up the hill between the 
house and the shop and cross the fence at the top of the rise; g-o 
throug-h the g-rove of oaks, keeping- in the rather indistinct path until 
you come to the wood road. Then follow that to a fork. Take the 
rig-ht-hand road here,— this doesn't seem to be rig-ht, but the left g-oes 
only to the foot of the mountain, to a quarry. From here on it is 
only a matter of keeping- on the road (which is badly g-rown up with 
small brush) to the end of it,— in a sort of pocket among- big- trees up 
on the easterly side of the mountain. Fine views may be caug-ht here 
and there, especially of the Little Shandaken valley. From the point 
where the road ends there is no well marked trail and a ten minutes 
strug-g-le throug-h the brush will bring- one to the top of the spur 
reaching- toward The Corner. Going- around to the " front" of this, 
—that is, toward the west,— a g-rand view is obtained down the 
Esopus valley. At one's feet is the settlement at The Corner em- 
bowered in larg-e trees, the Beaverkill winding- throug-h it, a silvery 
streak dashed with foamy white. The Esopus stretches out as a long-, 
twisted ribbon until lost in the distance. Boiceville and West 
Shokan are in the middle distance, in plain sight, and the scattered 
farm houses dot with human interest the whole valley as far as the 
eye can disting-uish. Hig-h Point looks g-rand in proportions, as it is, 
on the rig-ht of the valley and Tysteneyck is a dig-nified boundary on 
the left. Beyond these the broken and rolling- plains spread out in 
the g-ray distance losing- color g-radually till they merg-e into the blue 



74 THE CATSKILI.S. 

of the Shawang-unks; but beyond these are still more landscape lines 
fainter and fainter until lost in haze. From Hig-h Point westward 
the view is of mountain peaks with Slide Mountain atop of all. To 
the east from Tysteneyck, Tobias fills in the foreg-round view and 
hides the country beyond. The peak, or summit, of Tremper is still 
above us toward the north and so overg^rown as not to be worth g'oing 
to for the view is concealed by the foliag-e. But the spur which 
reaches out westward is worth a visit. Like a balcony it comes out 
into the valley gfiving- a fine view both ways. The view down has 
been briefly described althoug^h from this point it is somewhat differ- 
ent in detail. Up the valley we look down into Phoenicia and over 
toward Panther Mountain, and also into a part of the Stony Clove. 
No visitor to Mt. Pleasant should omit to climb Mt. Tremper. The 
trail is easy enoug-h for ladies with stout clothing. 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

PHCENICIA, 

AND WOODLAND VALLEY. 

AFTER leaving- Mount Pleasant the valley becomes rapidly nar- 
rower as the mountains crowd closer. What little cultivable 
land remains in the bottom is in many places kept with g-reat 
difficulty out of the g-rasp of the Esopus which here and there claims 
the entire width of half a mile, — and gets it in the Spring-, — leaving 
a waste of water-worn stones which are not larg-e enoug-h to be pic- 
turesque. On both sides of the valley the mountains are too steep 
for cultivation, and a few farms occupy all the bottom land available, 
subject to foreclosure by the Creek without notice. 

On the rig-ht Mt. Tremper swing-s in a g-reat curve so as to stand 
directly in front of us. On the left Mt. Pleasant soon g-ives place to 
Mt. Romer, a slig-ht depression or pass marking- the separation. Our 
course here is due north. After rounding- Mt. Romer, — as we must, 
the course will be southwest for a stretch. The station is on this 
curve at the farther end. 

As the train comes into the yard we notice the narrow g-uage 
trucks and the lifting- apparatus by which the bodies of the cars can 
be lifted off the standard trucks and the narrow trucks put under 
them. This is necessary in order that they may be run on the Stony 
Clove R. R., which has its lower terminus here, and is built on the 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. ' 75 




PHCENICIA FROM THE RESERVOIR. 

The Tremper House at the right of the village ; the Europa House at the left 
Panther Mountain in the background, 

narrow g"uage. Passeng-ers for stations in the Stony Clove and on 
top of the mountain from Hunter to Otis Summit are oblig-ed to 
change cars here. There has been some talk of making- the Stony 
Clove R. R. a standard [g-uag-e road. If this is done it will certainly 
be a g-reat improvement, and a g-reater convenience to travellers 
by that line. 

The scenery about Phoenicia is the wildest on the line of the 
railroad. The place is completely surrounded by mountains with 
steep slopes, and so hig-h as to carry the sky-line far up into space. 
The level land upon which the town is built is but a few acres 
scarcely five hundred, and seems to be left only throug-h g-reat con- 
descension on the part of the mountains. The Esopus froths along- 
in a rocky bed over ag-ainst Mt. Romer taking- a free and easy twist 
as it leaves the villag-e as if to emphasize its claim to all the lowland 
in sig-ht. The Stony Clove stream comes down its narrow valley 
with a larg-e volume of water and cuts the town in two. A short 
mile above the town, the Woodland Valley stream comes in drain- 
ing- another larg-e territory. Here is a favorite spot for fisher- 
men with three larg-e and fine streams and many smaller tributaries 
near by. 

Alig-hting- for a short survey of accommodations, we cross the 
space at the end of the station, pausing- a few minutes, perhaps, to 
watch the transfer of bag-gage and express from the U. & D. cars to 
those of the Stony Clove R. R., which stand just the other side of 
the station building, with its locomotive humming- with the pent up 
power to be used in climbing up the steeps of the famous Clove. 



76 



THE CATSKILLS. 



PHCENICIA P. O., 
ULSTER CO., N. Y 



Opposite the station is the post-office and next door to it is 
W. B. Martin's hotel. $2 per day. Special rate by the week 
or month. 

Turning- to the left up the street a few rods, 
we reach the larg-e iron bridg^e across the Esopus 
passing- on the way the curving- bridg-e of the Stony Clove R. R. 

Directly throug-h the bridg-e, as if framed by the trusses, appears 
the Tremper House a quarter of a mile from the station, in a stately 
position upon a fine natural terrace. The street leads directly to the 
gates of the spacious grounds which contain not only the large hotel 
and its accessory building-s, but also several detached cottag-es for 




THE EUROPA HOUSE. J. F. VOSS, PROPRIETOR. 



the g-reater convenience of family parties who desire a measure of 
privacy with the advantag-es of a larg-e hotel. At this writing- it 
is not decided who will run the hotel this season so no name can 
be g-iven. Address the Tremper House, Phoenicia, N. Y. Room for 
two hundred and fifty g-uests. Terms, usually, $3 per day. $15 
per week. 

Turning- up the street toward the left we cross the track of the 
Stony Clove road up which the train has gone hissing- and throbbing- 
with a vim not unlike a mettled horse. 

Mrs. Mary K. Winter's house is just beyond the track. Room 
for ten. $7 and $8. 

A few steps further is a small hotel, the Phoenicia House, C. C. 
Winne, Proprietor. Room for twenty. Apply. 



FERKIS S HANDBOOK. 



77 



A short distance from here is the wag-on road up the Stony Clove, 
— at the bridg-e. Turning- here we find James Kinkaid's a quarter of 
a mile from the bridg-e. Room for twenty-five. Apply. 

Newton J. Knapp's is close by. Room for twenty. Apply. 

The next houses on this road are at Chichester's. See chapter 
on the Stony Clove. 

Returning- to the main street at the bridg-e over the Stony Clove 
stream, we cross the bridg-e to the newer part of the town. 

The second house on the rig-ht is the residence of Dr. Krom, the 
villag-e physician. 

Mrs. Jas. A. Simpson's is next. Room for six. Apply. 

R. Breithoupt's is next door. Room for twenty-five. $5 to $7. 

Across the street is a larg-e three-story building- with a large ex- 
tension running- back. This is the Europa House, Julius F. Voss, 
Proprietor. This is the second house in size in the town and new from 
top to bottom, open for its first season. The g-rounds have been taste- 
fully laid out and a rustic pavilion built. Inside, the rooms both 
public and private are brig-ht and pleasant, and furnished for comfort 
as well as appearance. The kitchen and laundry are models of com- 
pleteness, and, all in all, Mr. Voss is to be cong-ratulated in the pos- 
session of an up-to-date house. Accommodations for one hundred. 
Apply for terms g-iving- full particulars as to wants, and every effort 
will be made to assure satisfaction. Address Europa House, Phoeni- 
cia, N. Y. 

A short distance around the bend of the road is J. H. Simpson's, 
half a mile from the station. Room for twenty-five. $7. 

This road leads 
to Shandaken, six 
miles away, and, by 
a branch to the left 
half a mile beyond 
Simpson's intoWood- 
land Valley. 

In Woodland Val- 
ley there are three 
houses distant about 
five miles from the 
station at Phoenicia, 
which is their post- 
of&ce also. 

Miss D. W. Beach 
takes thirty. Apply. 




J. H. SIMPSON'S HOUSE. 



J. A. Lord takes twenty. Apply. 
Mrs. A. Jansen takes twelve. Apply. 



78 



THE CATSKILLS. 



The beauties of Woodland Valley (formerly Snyder Hollow) 
have been told ag-ain and ag-ain, by pen and pencil, — to say nothing- 
of the fish stories which have been manufactured with a basis of 
more or less raw material on the way "home" from the famous 
"Snyder Hollow Stream." It is now the reg-ular resort of artists 
who find endless sug-g-estion in its charming- natural composition. 

On the Shandaken road, about a mile beyond the turn to Wood- 
land Valley is "The Wittenberg-," to be run this year by A. Tobias 
RISELEY'S P O ^^ whom Mr. Whitney, the owner, has leased 

jjLSTER CO N Y ^^' ^oom for seventy-five. Apply. 

A new post-office has been established here, 
and is located in the store just beyond The Wittenberg-. It is 
called "Riseley's." 




WOODLAND VALLEY LOOKING SOUTH. 



Mrs. E. Jakeway's is opposite the post-office. This house has 
t)een doubled in size since last season and will now accommodate 
forty. Apply. 

There are many interesting- views to be enjoyed about Phoenicia. 
The prettiest view of the villag-e and surrounding- scenery is to be 
had from a knoll near the reservoir, a cow-pasture owned by Romeyn 
Long-year, who denies to visitors the privileg-e of enjoying it, so that 
the view from the reservoir itself must be taken as the best available. 
The entrance to this, point is through the two red gates by the tall 
pine tree on the road toward Mt. Pleasant about half a mile from 
the Europa House. Smith's quarry is also reached by this road and 
from there a fine view is to be had. To go to the quarry take the 
left hand road at the fork; the right hand road leads to the reservoir. 
Another pretty view is had from the quarries back of the Tremper 
House. The Grand View Rock is at Simpson's quarry, entrance to 
-which is nearly opposite the Europa House. This is about half an 



FEKRIS'S HANDBOOK. 79 

hour's climb, well repaid however. Other fine views may be enjoyed 
about the entrance to Woodland Valley from several points of van- 
tag-e. One quarry near the railroad bridge, but some 300 feet higher 
g"ives a very pleasing outlook. 

One other house remains to be noticed, that of Madison Long- 
year. This is reached by crossing the U. & D. R. R. track just 
above the station and going a long mile toward Mt. Pleasant on that 
side of the Esopus. Room for fifteen. Apply. 



■5*i$S $:€:*«■ 



CHAPTER XIX. 

ALLABEN 

AND THE SHANDAKEN VALLEY. 

AS WE leave Phoenicia station we catch an attractive view of the 
Tremper House, and back of it the lower end of the Stony 
Clove with a spur of Mt. Sheridan on the left and the steep 
slopes of Mt. Tremper on the right. The high rounded peak which 
seems to shut in the clove is the summit of the Ox Clove Mountain 
lying on the farther side of that clove ; beyond it lies Broad Street 
Hollow, or, by its more recent christening, Forest Valley. The rail- 
road track lies close beside the creek, and, as we pass, a little whirl- 
wind, often seen at this point because of the conformation of the 
mountains, seizes a bit of the water from the rapids and throws it 
high into the air, a pretty pillar of spray. 

Across the creek the ragged cliffs with their black fissures reach 
up into a precipice scarred with quarries and littered with their debris 
of stone chips and broken flags. At the top is Grand View Rock re- 
ferred to near the close of the chapter preceding. A glance ahead 
shows a succession of mountain spurs plunging down into the nar- 
row valley. This is the wildest bit of scenery along the line of the 
railroad, and there are quick surprises as the train seems to leap to 
one side to avoid the creek and the other to escape a mountain, hast- 
ening away from the tumultuous roar of the one and the metallic 
racket of the other. With a quick curve to the right we cross the 
iron bridge over Woodland Creek, and get a glimpse toward the left 
of the entrance to Woodland Valley. After crossing this stream the 
diminished size of the Esopus is quite noticeable, it having lost also 
the volume contributed by the Stony Clove stream. 



80 



THE CATSKILLS. 



To the rig-ht, looking- up the Esopus Creek is a fine vista, with 
four mountain peaks in the distance, — Rose Mountain at Shandaken 
occupying- the left, then Broad Street Mountain with the peaked sum- 
mit, then North Dome, and on the right Big^ Westkill Mountain just 
showing- above the pines on Mt. Sheridan. Half a mile of tortuous 
winding- and turning-, in close fellowship with the Esopus, and we 
pass Mrs. De Mott's larg-e Excelsior Mill, occupying- a flat of a few 
acres. Then with a sweep we enter the beautiful Shandaken Val- 
ley. An entire chang-e of scene g^reets the interested traveller. The 
mountains on either side seem to have drawn away, and the pastoral 
spirit reig-ns over broad meadows dotted with cattle, g-ently sloping- 
foothills crowned with orchards, and farm houses of thrifty appear- 
ance nestled here and there in clumps of fruit-bearing- trees. The 




IN THE SHANDAKEN VALLEY. 



train hugs the foot of Mt. Garfield on the westerly side of the valley, 
while the creek runs far over toward the easterly side for nearly a 
mile and then comes back to make a charming- f oreg-round for a pretty 
picture near Riseley's, the new post-office between Phoenicia and 
Shandaken. 

Half a mile farther on is the crusher which is breaking- up the 
spare rocks of Mt. Garfield to supply ballast for the Ulster and 
Delaware R. R., — up in an old quarry to the left. Another half- 
mile and Mt. Sheridan is passed and Broad Street Hollow ( Forest 
Valley) opens to the rig-ht, disclosing- in the distance the clove be- 
tween North Dome on the left and Big- Westkill Mountain on the 
rig-ht. The latter is 3900 feet hig-h, one of the hig-hest in that 
reg-ion, and its outline in this view is marked by noble convex 
curves. Throug-h this notch one may reach Spruceton, of which 
more anon, — in the next chapter, — but only on foot. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 81 

Here the Esopus looses the volume of the Broad Street brook, 
and from this point the valley contracts sensibly, and the pastures 
and orchard lots climb up hig-her and hig-her on the mountain sides 
to g-et living- room, pushing around the outcropping ledges and 
crowding- against the forest, so that one may see a giant ash and 
a Baldwin apple almost touching one another over a barbed-wire 
fence and wrestling underground for such sustenance as the soil will 
g-rant. And all over the mountain sides are roads in spots which 
seem inaccessible to the observer from below, down which come the 
supplies of basswood and poplar (or "popple" in the vernacular) for 
the Excelsior Mills, and birch, beech and maple for the large chair 
factory of Hiram Whitney visible just ahead, beside the huge piles 
of blue-stone flagging and curbing which fill the yards at AUaben, 
at which station we now make a halt. 

ALLABEN. 

This is a busy little place for considerable shipping is done, but 
there is a pleasant welcome ready for the careworn visitor in search 
ALLABEN P O ^^ good air, pure water and rest. Across the 

ULSTER CO n' Y bridge, within a stone's throw of the station are 
the two Riseley cottages. G. B. Riseley has 
room for twenty. Apply. 

Mrs. Rose Griffin, in the other Riseley house, has room for 
fifteen. Apply. 

Geo. H. Gulnick, 100 yards along on the road to Shandaken, has 
room for fifteen. Apply. 

Robert Fox, a short distance further on this road takes twelve. 
Apply. 

Taking this road in the other direction, toward Phoenicia, — 
nearly a mile below is Broad Street Hollow, the road turning up 
the hollow toward the left and leading to two houses about a mile 
from this turn. 

H. J. Newell has room for twenty. Apply. 

Geo. Ennist has room for sixteen. Apply. 

Following down the main road toward Phoenicia, half a mile 
below, is Jacob Whitney's. Room for fifteen. $7. 

FINE PHOTOGRAPHS of any of the views pictured in this 
book (and many others) for sale at prices noted on back cover pag-e. 

R. FERRIS, Artist Photographer, 

West Shokan, N. Y. 



82 THE CATSKILLS 

CHAPTER XX. 

SHANDAKEN. 

BUSHNELLVILLE, WESTKILL, SPRUCETON, AND LEXINGTON. 

FROM Allaben to Shandaken is said to be a mile. It reminds 
one of a "mile" in the Adirondacks, where they always throw 
-4- in a bit extra because the soil is so poor. No one who travels 
this mile to Shandaken will ever dispute the leng-th of it, with a 
view to asking- for good measure. Just after leavings the station 
Peck Hollow opens on the rig-ht g-iving- a distant view of North 
Dome. A g-ood trout stream comes down into the Creek from up in 
there. 

A little farther and the beautiful Fox Hollow opens on the left, 
an immense amphitheatre with the westerly, — and lower, — peak of 
Panther Mountain at the further side. From this Hollow flows 
another noted trout stream. 

About three-quarters of a mile above Allaben we pass the exten- 
sive chair factory of Hiram Whitney. A specialty of this factory is 

<-LJA...r^AixrTKi r. r^ ^ Hnc of caued chairs and rockers for export. 
SHANDAKEN P. O., _. . . ^ 

... c^-ntrn, r^r^ K. v The mouutaius all about have furnished maple, 

ULSTER CO., N. Y. ^ ' 

beech and birch, ash and walnut, to the saws 

of this factory for some years, and now the mountains of the West- 
kill chain are being- drawn upon, with no danger of scarcity for many 
years to come. 

A short half-mile farther under the shadow of mossy ledges 
dripping with numerous springs, and we reach the Shandaken 
station. 

The view from the station onward toward Big Indian is most 
attractive as one looks about. The mountain spurs seem to dove- 
tail and at the end of the view is Balsam Mountain showing plainly 
its great height. 

Close by the station, the track running almost through the door- 
yard, is The Clarendon, M. C. Wait, Proprietor. $2 a day. 

Around the corner to the left, — toward Big Indian and on the 
road to that place is C. B. Votee's. Room for fifteen. $7 and $8. 

Turning to the right after leaving the station we reach the 
principal house of the town, the Palace Hotel, about three minutes 
walk, crossing the bridge on the way. 

The Palace Hotel stands upon a fine natural terrace above the 
roadway. It is a family resort as well as for transient guests, and is 
the summer home of many who come early and remain late in the 
season, to whom special rates are generously made by the proprietor. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 



83 



The accommodations are first-class in every respect; and with its 
recent renovation and refurnishing- this house has now all the im- 
provements of a first-class hotel. It is lighted with gas, heated by 
steam, fitted with electric bells and has modern bath and toilet 
rooms. Two hundred guests can be entertained at one time. Post- 
office, telegraph and express offices in the hotel. Local amusements 
are bowling-, tennis and croquet, billiards and pool, and music every 
evening. Dancing at appointed times. Out-door recreations are 
walking, riding- and driving for which good livery and saddle horses 




THE PALACE HOTEL, HIRAM WHITNEY, PROPRIETOR. 



are on hand. Guests who bring their own horses will have them 
well cared for and may expect to see their horses benefitted by a 
chang-e of air as well as themselves. Terms, — transient guests $3 
per day; single rooms $10 to S15 per week, double rooms for two, 
$18 to $24, depending- upon location. Hiram Whitney, Proprietor. 
F. X. Nufer, Manager. 

Shandaken is a paradise for fishermen. The Bushnellville stream 
is a famous one and runs down in front of the Palace Hotel. The 
Esopus is close by, and half a mile away are the Peck Hollow and 
Fox Hollow streams, to say nothing of a dozen small tributaries. 

In the rear of the Palace Hotel there is a fine outlook up the 
Bushnellville Clove on one side and over the Shandaken Valley on 
the other, from the top of a low hill which is appropriately named 
Windy Brow because of the constant breeze found there. It is a 
favorite resort for the sfuests of the hotel. From the ledges across 



84 



THE CATSKILLS 




THE BUSHNELLVILLE CLOVE FROM THE LEDGES. 
Palace Hotel at the Right, Nearly Hidden Amoug the Trees. 



the track from 
the station, 
easily reached 
in fifteen min- 
u t e s' walk, 
there is a very 
fine view of 
the clove, also 
of the country 
toward B i g- 
Indian. The 
B ushnellville 
Clove, too, is 
a succession 
of delig-hting- 
scenes. 

The Palace 
Hotel stands 

in an ang-le between the Bushnellville road on the left and the road 

to Phoenicia on the rig"ht, — as one faces the building-. On the 

Phoenicia road are several houses taking- boarders. 

J. S. Whitney's hotel. The Whitney House, is open to transients 

only. $2 per day. 

C. E. Wood's is a short distance further down the road. Room 

for ten. $7 to $9. 

Henry Grifl&th's is about half a mile from the station. Room for 

twenty-five. Apply. 

On the Bushnellville road, half a mile from the station, is Chas. 

Van Valkenberg-'s. Room for thirty. Apply. 

Bushnellville is three miles from the station on the stag-e-road 

leading- to Westkill and Lexington. There is a peculiar charm in the 

scenery of the 
clove in which 
this road lies. 
One naturally 
composed pic- 
ture follows 
another the 
entire dis- 
tance to the 
lake in Kcho 
Notch, three 
miles beyond 
Bushnellville, 

IN THE BUSHNELLVILLE CLOVE. a COUtinUOUS 




FEKKIS'S HANDBOOK 



85 




MRS. W. WRIGHT'S, BUSHNELLVILLE, N. Y. 



ULSTER CO., N. Y. 



panorama full of 
ready - made studies 
for the artist and pho- 
tographer. The life 
of the landscape is 
the hurrying brook, 
the Swift Bushkill 
as it is called, which 
has a fall of over 
three hundred feet in 
the three miles. Just 
after leaving- the Pal- 
ace Hotel there is a 
pretty "bowstring" bridge, and just beyond it an artificial water- 
fall at the roadside where a small grist mil is located, with a very 
pretty long and narrow mill-pond. The road winds back and 
forth, crossing and recrossing the stream, with each turn present- 

BUSHNELLVILLE P.O. ^^^ ^^ '^'/f'^' '^ "T."^^' J^u'^^ TT 

tion should be made of the October ettects 

in this valley when the leaves have changed 

color. They are exceptionally rich. 

Mrs. W. Wright's is the first house reached in Bushnellville, — 
The Mountain Brook House. The Swift Bushkill runs through the 
"backyard." Room for forty. Apply. 

J. B. Rider's is near by. Room for twenty. Apply. 

The Dorothy House is a few rods farther on. This house is 
under new management this year and guests will be properly and 
comfortably cared for, and every effort put forth to restore the pleas- 
ant associations which have made its name a "household word" 
in years past. 
Mr. Eli D. Jenk- 
ins, the owner of 
the house, isnow 
in personal con- 
trol. Room for 
thirty. Apply. 

From here 
onward toward 
Westkill, the val- 
ley winds more 
and more and the 
level bottom 

lands become the DOROTHY HOUSE, BUSHNELLVILLE. 

narrower as the ^li d. jenkins, proprietor. 




86 



THE CATSKILLS 



hills close in. Finally there is just the road and the brook and a long- 
strip of sweet moun- tain g-rass scarcely twenty feet in width with 
ledges overhanging it in a delightfully picturesque fashion. Then 
comes a spot where the g-rass is no more and the road and stream 
are in a heap, the road above and the stream under the bridge. Hence 
the road is cut into the side of the ravine leaving the brook to tum- 
ble along- in the cleft below. A mile further and we reach Echo 
Lake a long, narrow level of water, vibrant with reflections of vivid 
g-reens. It is broken half way down its length by the debris of a 
landside and some decaying logs which ought to be cleared away, and 
the whole sweep of water be free. This pretty lakelet is a favorite 
spot for visitors to Shandaken. 

Beyond the lake the road climbs still higher for another half- 
mile and then beg-ins the long- descent to Westkill, which being 

shorter in dis- 
tance than the 
Bushnellville 
side is also steep- 
er. Echo Notch, 
or Deep Notch, as 
it was formerly 
called, is very 
deep as compared 
with the moun- 
tain heights 
above it, but hig-h 
up when com- 
pared with the 
settle ments on 
either side The 
ride through it is one of interest. The magnificent orig-inal forest 
is on the one hand, and the great ledges on the other, draped with 
mosses of every shade of bronzy purples and greens and rich browns, 
and fantastically decorated with patches of pale gray-green and 
gray-pink lichens. 

G. D. Baldwin's Echo Notch House is the first we come to, seven 
miles from the station at Shandaken. Room 
for thirty. $6 to $8. 

Just be^-ond this is the Westkill Hotel, 
W. B. Whitney, Proprietor. This was formerly the Deyo House. 
Room for fifty. $1.50 per day. $6 to $9 per week. 

A few rods further is the post-office facing down the main street. 
The road passing it goes on to Lexington. On this road about a 
mile out is E. A. Chamberlain's. Room for twenty. Apply. 




VIEW IN WESTKILL VILLAGE. 



WESTKILL P. O., 
GREENE CO., N. Y. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK 



87 



Near bj is C. Humphrey's. Room for thirty. Apply. 

Two miles from the post-office is S. C. Chamberlain's. Room for 
iifty. Apply. (See under Lexing-ton.) 

Returning- to the main street which leads on to Spruceton, we 
iind near the corner Sherwood Deyo's. Room for twenty-live. $7. 

Miss Alice M. Ford's is across the street. Room for fifteen. 
Apply. 

W. P. Simmons takes fifteen. Apply. 

Lorenzo Deyo's is a quarter of a mile farther on. Room for 
twenty-five. Apply. 




BIG INDIAN VALLEY FROM PARKER'S HILLSIDE PASTURE.* 
James W. Dutcher's house at the left. Balsam Mountain in the distance. 

Chris. Reilly's is nearly two miles from the post-office, on the 
same road, —to Spruceton. Room forty. Apply. 

Continuing- on this road a long mile further we reach Spruceton, 
a small villag-e located at the foot of the western slopes of Hunter 
SPRUCETON P O Mountain, 4052 feet high, with Big- Westkill 
GREENE CO N y' fountain, 3900 feet, on the south, and Van 
■' ■ ■ Valkenburgh Peak on the north, 3800 feet 
high. This g-roup of g-iants gives a g-randeur of character to the 
surrounding scenery. 

The Maple Grove House, Geo. A. Van Valkenburgh, Proprietor, 
has room for forty. $6 to S8. 

W. C. Van Valkenburgh takes twenty. $6 to $8. 

* (Very fine photographs, ii by 14 in., of this view. See back cover page.) 



8» THE CATSKILLS 

The stag^e Hue to Lexing-ton from Shandaken passes over the 
road described throug-h Bushnellville and Westkill and beyond this 
latter town four miles, but as the larger number of passeng^ers go by- 
way of Hunter the description of Lexing-ton has been placed in that 
chapter. 

From Westkill there is a road over the mountain to Halcott 
Centre (see Fleischmann's). It is mentioned here to speak only of 
the superb view from one of its highest reaches. It is a difficult 
road because of its steep grades, which, in several places, are suited 
rather to a goat than to a horse. But the roadway is good, and a 
climber on foot will be well repaid for the effort. 



■«i$i$$i*S«- 



CHAPTER XXI 



BIG INDIAN, 



OI.IVEREA AND SLIDE MOUNTAIN 



FROM Shandaken to Big Indian is three miles measured on the 
level and one hundred and fifty feet measured vertically. 
The spurs of Panther Mountain on the left and Rose Mountain 
on the right crowd one another in a dovetailing fashion and force 
the Esopus to wind across and back in the narrow valley, and the 
railroad follows the stream. There is a small bit of level bottom 

land about a mile 
out from Shanda- 
ken, and here Jas. 
Donahue has plant- 
ed his "Forest 
Home " visible from 
the car windows 
on the right. Soon 
after passing his 
place we g"et a 
charming view up 
the Creek from a 
bend at the track, 
the b r i d g- e from 
Wade's mill in the 
VIEW AT WADE'S BRIDGE. foreground, and the 




FERRIS S HANDBOOK 



89 



BIG INDIAN P. O., 
ULSTER CO., N. Y. 



fal s at Wade's dam being- ia sig-ht far up the stream. The Belle 
Ayr Mountain fills in the distance. 

A mile further the station is reached. This is a busy spot. 
Here the extra locomotive waits to help the train up the steep grades, 
of Pine Hill, and Wm. Atkins's stag-es stand waiting- for passen- 
gers to Olivera, Slide Mountain post-office, Winnisook Lodg-e and 
so on to Clary ville in Sullivan Co., by way of the beautiful and 
wild Neversink country. Taken altog-ether this stag-e line trav- 
erses about the wildest country in the Catskills on any reg-ular 
route. The Big Indian valley is very wild, resembling the Adiron- 
dacks rather than the average Catskills. 

At the station the wagon road crosses the track at right angles, 
the road toward the right, or northward, 
leading across the Big Indian stream and the 
Esopus, — two bridges, — to the highway between 
Shandaken and Pine 
Hill. 

W. Marsh's house 
is on this road, the 
first from the sta- 
tion. Room for 
twenty-five. Apply. 
On the Shandaken 
road just below the 
junction is D. C. 
Butcher's. Room for 
twenty. $5 to S7. 

Jas. Donahue's 
"Forest Home" is 
reached by this road, 
a long mile from this 
corner. Room for 
fifty. Apply. 

D. C. Myers's is a few rods below Donahue's entrance, 
for ten. Apply. 

On the road toward Pine Hill, turning to the left at the junction 
with the cross road to the station, Andres Cole's is first, a long 
quarter-mile from the railroad. Room for twenty. Apply. 

On a branch road leading to the left at Cole's, is Wm. E. Garri- 
son's with room for twenty-five. S5 to $8. 

Half a mile farther on this road, toward the Pine Hill, is W. C. 
Misner's, which will be described under that chapter as Mr. Misner 
gets his mail at the Pine Hill P. O., but his guests usually come 
by way of Big Indian, as it is so much nearer. 




AT BIG INDIAN STATION. 
Balsam Mountain on the left, Pine Hill ou the right in the background. 

Room 



90 



THE CATSKILLS 




WM E. GARRISON'S. 
Belle Ayr Mountain in the Background. 



The next house is 
Mrs. G. W. Misner's. 
Room for forty. Ap- 
ply- 

Isaac Smith's is 
close bj. Room for 
thirty. Apply. 

Returning- now to 
the station we g"0 
southward, with a 
short turn toward the 
west along- the track 
for a few rods. G. 
W. Lament's hotel 
is just across the 
track. Room for 
thirty. Apply. 
(). J. Moh'neux's is a few rods farther on between the road and 
the railroad. Room for fifteen. Apply. 

Ag-ain the road turns south, into the Big- Indian Valley. After 
a quarter of a mile a bridge carries a road toward the rig^ht, leading- 
up into the Lost Clove. 

Mrs. C. J. Griffin's is half a mile up in this beautiful clove, one 
of the handsomest in the reg-ion. Room for forty. Apply. 

On the main road again at the distance of a long- mile from the 
station is James Cruickshank's. Room for six. Apply. 

About a mile further is Jonathan Barnum's. Room for thirty. 
Apply. This brings us to another post-office, Oliverea, to which Mr. 
Barnum's mail should be addressed. 

Near by is E. D. Butcher's. Room for 
fifteen. Apply. 
Norman Rikert has room for ten. Apply. 
Van Wyck Knight has room for eight. Apply. 
This bring-s us to the store and post-office. Just beyond it is the 
hotel, Silas Burton, j^roprietor, with room for twenty-five at $1 per 
day. 

A few rods up the road a bridg-e takes us across to several houses 

clustered about the church. 

* 

Geo. E. Jocelyn has room for sixty. $7 to $10. 
Edg-ar Haynes takes thirty. $6. 
Willis R. Robinson takes twenty-five. S5 to $7. 
This road leads on up into Jocelyn Hollow, half a mile, to Geo. 
Butcher's. Room for twenty. Apply. 
Returning- now to the main road we g-o on southward up the 



OLIVEREA, P 
ULSTER CO , 



O 

N. 



Y. 



W 



FERRIS S HANDBOOK 



91 



valley. Rounding- a 
spur on the left we 
come out on a point 
which commands a 
very fine view, across 
the meadow lands, 
some thirty feet below 
us, to the slopes of 
Big- Indian Mountain. 
Scarcely a quarter of 
a mile away is Byron 
Butcher's, the roof of 
the house showing- 
above the trees which 
surround it, and a few 
minutes brings us to 






LOOKING UP THE LOST CLOVE, TOWARD MRS. GRIFFIN'S. 



Room here for seventy- 



the " Slide Mountain House " as it is called. 
five. Apply. 

Opposite Byron Butcher's there is a road leading across into 
Burnham Hollow. 

John Burnham takes twenty. $7. 

Farther on up the Hollow is Martin Maben's. Room for twenty. $6. 

From Davis's hill, across from Burnham's, there is a splendid view 
up the valley for nearly three miles, all the houses being- in sight up 
to the top of the hill at Miles Parker's, and the immense masses of 
Panther Mountain on the left and Big- Indian Mountain on the right 
show to g-reat advantag-e. There is also a pretty view up Burnham 
Hollow and a fine outlook down the valley, which seems rather tame 
after the others which are so wild. 

Returning- to the 
main road ag-ain at 
Byron Butcher's we 
g-Q on up the valley 
for half a mile to F. 
A. Brimer's. With 
the late additions to 
this house there are 
now accommodations 
for sixty. $6 and $7. 
Nearly a mile fur- 
ther, and four miles 
from the Big- Indian 
station, is Warren 
Johnson's. Room for 

+'hir+ '5^A fn '?^« LOOKING DOWN THE VALLEY FROM MILES PARKER'S HOUSE 

inirty. ^O XO 550. ^^.^^ ^^^^ P ^ ^^ ^^^ Right. Balsam Mtn. in the Distance. 




92 



THE CATSKILLS 



SLIDE MOUNTAIN P O 
ULSTER CO., N. Y. 




About a mile farther on is the pretty Episcopal chapel and just 
hejond it on the slope of Panther Mountain, up which the road 

climbs out of the valley, is Jas. W, Butch- 
er's and in this house is the Slide Moun- 
tain post-office. The distinction between 
this house and the Slide Mountain House, two miles below should 

be borne in mind, 
as the similarity 
in names is some- 
times perplex- 
ing-. Byron 
Butcher's Slide 
Mountain House 
is near Oliverea. 
James Butcher's 
Panther Moun- 
tain House and 
the Slide Moun- 
tain P. O. is two 
miles farther up 
the valley. Room 
for fifty. $6. 
Georg-e Butch- 
er's house was destroyed by fire last fall. Whether it will be rebuilt 
in time for guests this year is uncertain. 

Miles Parker's Falls House is the last on this road, a few rods 
beyond Jas. Butcher's. Room for forty. $7 to $10. 

Opposite Parker's is a pasture up which winds a steep and stony 

road, but ten min- 
utes climbing-, in- 
cluding halts for 
breath, takes one to 
a point from which 
ane of the finest 
views in the reg-ion 
may be enjoyed. 
Still hig^her one may 
g-ain a view of Slide 
Mountain, a near by 
view, for this hig-h- 
est of the Catskills 
is not far from here. 
Indeed the ascent is 
usually made from 



JAMES W. DUTCHER'S. 

Slide Mountain P. O. 




MILES PARKER'S HOUSE. 



FERRIS S HANDBOOK 



93 



here either on foot for the whole six miles, or three miles of it 
may be made with a " team " of some sort. In either case the stage 
road is followed to a fork near the Winnisook Lodg-e. Then leav- 
ing" the stage road, the left hand road is taken, crossing the bridge 
and just a few yards 
beyond is the trail 
turning off toward 
the left. The view 
from Slide Mountain 
has been described 
too often to be re- 
peated here. A pan- 
oramic engraving of 
the view can be had 
at the Slide Moun- 
tain post-office, and 
with one of these, the 
sixty-seven peaks in 
view can be correctly 
located and the en- 
joyment of the trip be much enhanced. 

There are several pretty falls about this wildwood post-office 
which are visited by hundreds every season, the one at Parker's mill 
being the largest. Gem Falls, farther up the stream, is very pretty. 




FALLS AT MILES PARKER'S MILLS. 



-»$$i$$:$i$^ 



CHAPTEP XXII. 



PINE HILL. 

■" EAVING Big Indian station the railroad keeps a westerly course 
until it crosses the Big Indian stream and then swings around 
J on to the slope of Pine Hill, a part of Belle Ayr Mountain, 
and begins the steepest climb so far encountered. Within three 
miles an. ascent of four hundred and fifty feet is made. In the sum- 
mer, when the trains are heavy, an extra locomotive is attached at 
Big Indian and even with this the progress is slow. The desirable 
position for a", traveler in this climb is at the rear door of the rear 
car. The views down the " hill " are very fine. Something can be 
caught from the windows next the valley, and they are second choice. 



94 



THE CATSKILLS 




PINE HILL VILLAGE FROM THE RAILROAD. 

Monka Hill in the distance,— Grand Hotel at the left ; Towiisend Hollow to the right, 
with valley of Birch Creek leading up to it. 

for all cannot stand at the door. About a mile up we beg-in to see 
the houses in the lower end of the village of Pine Hill, the Rip 
Van Winkle House, an odd structure covered with olive-gray shingles 
being first. Next to it is the Mountain Inn in a grove of trees. This 
house was formerly the noted Guigou House. Then there is a little 
vacant space, then A. P. Dunn's cottage on a hill across the road, 
then the Cornish House on the nearer side with its many gables and 
little towers, the white Alpine next and then the village becomes too 
dense to describe definitely. The train passes the village and halts 
just beyond it where there is a chance to get a road down on an easy 
grade. If Pine Hill were the objective point the entrance could have 
been easier for the locomotive and more convenient for the sojourn- 
ers and dwellers in the village, but the Summit is to be surmounted 
and the height gained reserved against the climb that is left. 

There are so many boarding houses in Pine Hill that it is hardly 
possible to make their locations plain to a stranger, and after the 
writer has done his best it will still be wise for an unacquainted vis- 
itor to ask for more definite directions upon crossing the bridge at 
the upper end of the village. 

From the station are two roads, one leading up the valley, away 

PINE HILLP O. ^T^om the main village, and one down into the 

ULSTER CO. N. Y. "^^^^ village. Taking the first one mentioned we 

find several houses in the vicinity of the reservoir. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 



95 




MAIN STREET, PINE HILL. 

Hotel Ulster on the left. Sentinel Office next. Grounds of the Brewerton on the rights 
Hill's store at the sunny spot below, on that side. 

H. Robinson takes eig^ht. Apply. 

Henry J. Myers, at the Elm Tree House, takes thirty-five. 
$7 to $9. 

J. K. Snedeker has room for twenty-five. $7 to $9. 

The Bonnie View House accommodates forty. Apply. 

On the road, down the hill at the first bridg^e is Mrs. E. C. Cas- 
tle's, Room for twenty. $7. 

Close by is E. C. FoUett's. Room for fifteen. Apply. 

O. M. FoUett's is here also. Room for twenty. Apply. 

A few rods further is the second bridg-e, and a road running- 
around the hill to the left, on which is Geo. H. Gavett's "Victoria 
Cottage." Room for twenty. $7 to $9. This road leads up to the 
Summit and The Grand Hotel, also to Griffin's Corners, and by a 
cross-road into Townsend Hollow. 

Returning to the bridge at the head of the main street (Main 
Street) the Hotel Ulster is on the left ; H. F. Baker, Proprietor. 
Accommodations for one hundred and twenty-five guests. $2.50 per 
day. $7 to $10 per week. 

The Brewerton, W. M. Brewer, Proprietor, is directly opposite. 
Room for one hundred. $2.50 per day. Special rates by the week. 
Apply. • . 

A few steps beyond the Brewerton is the Central Hotel, Clinton 
Johnson, Proprietor. $2 per day. 



96 



THE CATSKILLS 



Hill's store and hall comes next and then Geo, Cole's Pine Hill 
Hotel all on the same (southerly) side of the street. $1.50 per day. 

Nearly opposite is the Avon Inn, F. W. LaMent, Proprietor. $2 
per day day. $9 per week. 

Next door is Mrs. A. P. Noel's. Room for twenty-five. Apply. 

Across the street a road runs up on the hillside, between Cole's 
Hotel and Hill's store, to Mrs. T. S. LaMent's Mountain View House. 
Room for fifty. Apply. 

Next to Mrs. Noel's, on that side of the street is H, Crosby's. 
Room for fifteen. $7. Mr. Crosby also conducts a livery. 




THE CORNISH HOUSE, PINE HILL, N. Y. 



Next door is the Orchard Park House, conducted by D. J. Hunt. 
Room for forty. Apply. 

Across the street next to the church (Methodist) is Mrs. B. F. 
Cornish's. Room for twelve. Apply. 

Next door is The Alpine, A. B. Smith, Proprietor. Accommoda- 
tions for one hundred. $2 per day. $8 per week. 

Next to the Alpine is the well-known Cornish House, so well- 
known that one no sooner hears of Pine Hill than he thinks of the 
Cornish House. This much-to-be-desired result from an advertiser's 
point of view, has been achieved by Mr. Cornish through an admir- 
able system of advertising- for many years, and no one will beg-rudg-e 
him the practical returns which are now his. 



FEKRIS'S HANDBOOK 



97 




PARLORS OF THE CORNISH HOUSE. 



The Cornish House is built upon one of the natural terraces of 
Belle Ayr Mountain, and the grounds are much larger than those 
about any other 
house in the village. 
Mr. Cornish's taste 
for beauty in land- 
scape gardening is 
shown in the way 
the grounds have 
been laid out, and 
also in the way they 
are cared for, all un- 
der his personal di- 
rection. The fine 
bit of terrace work 
about the tennis 
court, with its fault- 
less curves, is evidence of his superior ability and skill. This tennis 
court, by the way, is probably the finest in the Catskills, — none better, 
at all events. 

The house has been recently enlarged and now accommodates 
one hundred guests. Added room has been given to the kitchen de- 
partment, which with the newest of modern appliances is very com- 
plete. The little private balconies attached to many of the rooms are 
a delightful addition to the means of enjoyment. The sanitary ar- 
rangements are up-to-date, and as faultless as combined skill and 
energy can secure. As might be expected the Cornish House is first- 
class and receives the most desirable of guests. Terms $8 to $15 per 
week, $2 to $2.50 per day. Address Jas. C. Cornish, Pine Hill, N. Y. 

Below the Corn- - ; -- — . , -- 

ish House and back ' ."" 
from the street is 
Mrs. John M. 
Smith's. Room for 
thirty. $6 to $11. 

Opposite the 
Cornish House is 
Mrs. John Barry's, 
■^oom for twenty. 
Apply. 

A. P. Dunn's is 
on a little hill a few 
miles farther down 
the valley. Room for forty 





DINING-ROOM AT THE CORNISH HOUSE. 



Apply. 



98 



THE CATSKILLS. 




THE MOUNTAIN INN. THOS. R. MOORE. 



The^ Mountain Inn is next and a quarter of a mile below. As 
the " Guig-ou House" it has had a long- and prosperous existence, 
which it will not lose with its old name now practically meaning-- 
less. Thos. R. Moore is the present proprietor. Accommodations 
for two hundred. Terms from $10 upward per week. 

Just below is the Rip Van Winkle House, S. P. Van Loan, Pro- 
prietor. Accommodations for one hundred. $10 to $25 per week. 
$3 per day. 

W. C. Misner's is a mile down the valley, reached more easily 

from Big- Indian sta- 
tion. Mr. M i s n e r 
was formerly proprie- 
tor of the "Belle 
Ayr" at Hig-hmount, 
now occupied as a 
summer school for 
boys. At the present 
location there are ac- 
commodations for 
twenty. Apply for 
terms. Address to 
Pine Hill P. O. 

Returning- now up 

Main Street to the 

SHADY LANE. w. c. MISNER'S. first cross strcct Open- 




FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 99 

ing- toward tlie north, opposite the Central Hotel. This is called 
Elm Street, and on the corner is the oii&ce of the Pine Hill Sentinel^ 
U. S. Grant Cure, Editor and Proprietor. The Sentinel has quite 
a larg-e out of town subscription list among- reg"ular visitors and 
owners of cottag-es who like to keep posted as to Pine Hill's doing-s 
in their absence. 

Following Elm Street we cross the bridge to the "Zephjr," a 
novelty, souvenir and refreshment store, largely patronized by young- 
people in search of Huyler's candy and similar edibles. 

The Winterton, D. T. "Winter, Proprietor, is next. Room for 
fifty. Apply. 

Continuing, we cross a bridge over Birch Creek to " The Wat- 
son," S. H. Lee, Proprietor. Room for thirty-five. $7 to $10. 

Toward the right the road leads down past the handsome Church 
of the Transfiguration. 

Edgar Mill's house is a little farther down, beyond the church. 
Room for ten. Apply. 

Returning to the bridge near "The Watson," we turn to the 
left up Birch Creek. 

H. Whipple's Green Valley House, is the first, a long half a 
mile from the station. Room for twenty. Apply. 

H. A. Goldman's is next. Room for twenty-five. $7 and S8. 

De Forest Bishop is next, in the house formerly Hezekiah 
Gossoo's. Room for forty. $7 to $9. 

Across the street is Egbert Johnson's. Room for thirty-five. 
$7 to $9. 

Opposite Johnson's is the summer cottage of Pres. Morton, of 
Stevens Institute, and along up the valley are several cottages, — 
Chancellor MacCracken's, Mrs. J. C. Maben's, Wm. Monroe's, Mr. 
Henderson's, Mrs. Penrose's, and several others which are rented for 
this season. Prof. Arthur Wisner, of New York, has both the 
Dougherty and Crosby cottages this year. 

Farther on, beyond all these, is A. S. Gossoo's, with accommo- 
dations for thirty-five. S7 to $10. 

Half a mile further up, and around the head of Townsend Hol- 
low, we reach the Townsend houses, three of them. 

Warren Townsend has room for fifty. Apply. 

James Townsend takes twenty-five. Apply. 

Isaac Townsend takes twelve. Apply. 

FINE PHOTOGRAPHS of any of the views pictured in this book (and 
many others) for sale at prices noted on back cover page. 

R. FERRIS, Artist Photographer, 

West Skokan, N. Y. 



100 



THE CATSKILLS. 



The g-uests for these houses usually g-o to the Grand Hotel sta- 
tion, which is a short mile away, during- the summer season, but all 

mail is addressed to 
Pine Hill P. O. 

A cross road leads 
from near th ese 
houses, or nearer to 
Gossoo's, where there 
are four corners, back 
over the mountain to 
Bushnellville, about 
three miles. It is a 
pleasant tramp with 
many enjoyable views 
from time to time. 
The other three roads 
at the corners lead 
one to Pine Hill by 
way of Birch Creek, one to Highmount and the Grand Hotel station, 
and the other to the Townsend houses, and beyond them, northward 
to Halcott Centre three miles; southwesterly to Griffin's Corners three 
miles. 




WARREN TOWNSeND'S HOUSE. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



GRAND HOTEL STATION 



HIGHMOUNT. 

1ROM the Pine Hill Station to the Grand Hotel station is a short 
H half mile by foot power, — by rail it is nearer two miles, dis- 
posed in the form of a double horse-shoe curve to gain the two 
hundred feet and more required to overcome the summit of the pass, 
which is 1886 feet above the sea-level. The view down the Pine 
Hill valley as the train rounds the curve is one never to be forgotten. 
The station is named for the New Grand Hotel built upon the 
divide on a plateau, or bench of Monka Hill on the north side of the 
railroad. It is said to be on the county line, half in Ulster County 
and half in Delaware County. From its broad verandahs at either 
end are views wide in extent but of very different characters. The 
Ulster County view is wild and majestic, the Delaware County is mild 



FERRIS S HANDBOOK. 



101 



and pastoral. For those who have a little spare energ-y the view 
from Monka Hill is recommended as it covers more territory and is 
distinctly liner, giving-, eastward, a tine view down the Birch Creek 
valley and including- much of the villag-e of Pine Hill, enlivening- the 
foreg-round. Many visitors from Pine Hill and Griffin's Corners come 
up here to this lookout. 

The New Grand Hotel is a larg-e and imposing- building- with a 
frontag-e of nearly seven hundred feet, — over an eig-hth of a mile. 
Post-office and teleg-raph office in the house. The name of the post- 




THE NEW GRAND HOTEL. 
Summit Station in the foreground,— Monka Hill back of hotel. 

office is Summit Mountain. Accommodations for five hundred g-uests. 
Transient rates $4.5U per day. Special rates by the week and month. 

The country about here, especially towardPine Hill has been 
built up with handsome summer residences and is acquiring- a 
HIGHMOUNT P.O. park-like appearance with closely cut lawns 
ULSTER CO. n!y. ^^^ specimen shrubbery. Dr. Butler, of 
Brooklyn, owns several of these cottag-es, 
which are rented from year to year. 

Ira Olmstead's is the nearest boarding- house to the station about 
200 yards away down the track toward Griffin's Corners. Room for 
twelve. $8. 

The .Grampian is over toward the Belle Ayr Mountain, south 
from the station about half a mile. Mrs. H. Hausmann, Proprietress. 
Accommodations for sixty. S3 per day. $10 to S15 per week. 



102 



THE CATSKILIvS. 




VIEW INTO HIGHMOUNT FROM NEW GRAND HOTEL. 
Belle Ayr Mtu. iu the Background. 

The Rossmore is half a mile on the road toward Pine Hill. S. 
Hoffman, Proprietor. Room for sixty. $8 to $15. 

The Hoffman House is south of the track on a loop road which 
joins Pine Hill road below. Mrs. John F. Hill is proprietress. Room 
for thirty. Apply. 

Mrs. S. Tompkins's is next on the same road. Room for thirty. 
$6 to $10. 

From the railroad station it is about a mile around to the 
Townsend houses in what is called Townsend Hollow, really about 
on the same level, the " hollow" heading- here and running- down to 
to Griffin's Corners, back of Monka Hill. At this station also, during- 
the summer months the g-uests for A. S. Gossoo's usually alig-ht. 
See Pine Hill for particulars of these houses. 



;€:$^ 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

FLEISCH MANN'S, 
griffin's corners and halcott centre. 

THE train leaves the summit station and starts down into Dela- 
ware County with a sense of relaxed effort; for the travellers 
feel the energ-y put forth in climbing- up Pine Hill. Now the 
brakes are put on and we roll g-ently along on the down grade. For 
a short distance the scenic peculiarities of Ulster County seem to lap 



FERRIS S HANDBOOK, 



103 




VILLAGE OF GRIFFIN'S CORNERS FROM THE RAILROAD. 

'Over into "Delaware," and bits of rug-g-ed ledg-e, a few boulders and 
steepled evergreens carry the feeling- of the wilderness over the 
divide. But even here and there between them is caug-ht a far off 
view^ of cultivated hillsides which tell the story of a coming- chang-e, 
and scarce a half-mile is passed before the new country is before us. 
Fence rows marked by strag-g-ling- rows of trees reach away up the 
mountain slopes, and sometimes g-o over them, flanked by broad 
meadows on either side. This is the land of milk and honey, devoted 
to the Alderney cow and the busy bee, and incidentally to the sum- 
mer boarder. The cottag-er has also "planted his foot" upon this 




THE LAST BIT OF WILDERNESS. 



104 THE CATSKILLS. 

fair and fertile reg-ion, and there are hundreds of happj and hand- 
some homes all throug-h this region. 

The mountains are still with us but their lines are less pro- 
nounced and distinctive than in Ulster County. Their slopes, too, 
are g^entler and admit of meadows nearly to their summits on which 
generally speaking-, there is a crest of trees. But even the trees 
show a marked difference being- deciduous, instead of everg-reen. 
Larg-e forests of sug-ar maples are here and scattered all through 
them are sap-houses whence issue the familiar "bricks" of maple 
sug-ar, now, unfortunately, too often so mingled with cheap beet, 
or cane, sugar as to have lost nearly all the flavor of the maple. 
But there are many honest sug-ar makers, and it is possible to 
get absolutely pure maple sugar of fine quality if one knows "beans" 

well enough to re- 
fuse the adulterated. 
Taste before you 
buy. 

Griffin's Corners 
comes into view as 
we round a hillside 
about a mile below 
the summit, snug- 
gled together beside 
the little stream 
which is the east 
branch of the Dela- 
ware River. The 
"corners" are pro- 
THE FLEiscHMANN's HILLSIDE. duced by the Halcott 

Looking back from Clovesville. Belle Ayr Mountain in the background, r O a d whlch enters 

the village at its 
centre. We pass by the village nearly a mile before the train stops 
at Fleischmann's station, so named because of the extensive settle- 
ment of several members of this family and their friends, who have 
converted the whole hillside south of the station into a park of rare 
beauty, a charming setting for their elegant summer cottages. From 
the station northward also are many handsome dwellings, and others 
still across the valley. 

The nearest boarding houses are at Grif&n's Corners, nearly a 

GRIFFIN'S CORNERS P. O.. "^'^^ ^^^"^ ^^^ station. 
DELAWARE CO N Y '^^^ first is the Hotel Fleischmann, 

E. C. Lasher, Proprietor. SI. 50 per day. 
A few rods up the street on the right is Mrs. Augusta Scott's 
handsome cottage. . Room for thirty. Apply. 




FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 105 

Directly opposite is Mrs. W. H. Crandall's. Room for ten. 
Apply. 

A few steps further is Jacob Beihler's. Room for thirty. Apply. 

Just below this house the Red Kill road turns off to the left, — 
northward. On this road, three-fourths of a mile out, is Jerry Mun- 
son's. Room for twenty. Apply. 

At the village "square," — which is a triang-le,^the Halcott 
Road turns off up the hill toward the left. At this ang-le is G. H. 
Lasher's Hotel. SI. 50 per day. 

T. C. Banker's cottag-e is the first on the Halcott Road. Accom- 
modations for sixty. $10 to $15. 

Just beyond Banker's is a road leading- up the hill to the left, 
to D. H. Boug-hton's. Room for fifty. $7. 

The Switzerland, Rapp & Brownold, Proprietors, is on our rig-ht 
as we g-o up to Boug"hton's, on the left as we g-o up the Halcott Road^ 
in the ang-le between the two. Accommodations for eighty. $10 
to $15. 

Opposite the Switzerland is Martha J. Griffin's. Room for six- 
teen. Apply. 

Across the Halcott stream, up on the hillside, is a new house 
g-oing- up. It will hardly be ready for this season's occupancy. It is 
owned by Ralph Todd, who has another house two miles out on the 
Halcott road. 

Louis Metzger's is the next cottage on the road to Halcott. Room 
for forty. Apply. 

Hiram Reynolds is next. Room for twenty. Apply. This 
house is a mile and a quarter from Fleischmann's station. 

W. D. Ballard's house is next, two miles from the station. Room 
for thirty. Apply. 

Alec Morrison's is a quarter of a mile further. This house has 
been doubled in size since last season and now accommodates eighty. 
$8 to $10. 

De Witt Morrison's cottage is just beyond and across the road. 
Room for fifteen. Apply. 

Over the bridge is M. Garrison's. Room for thirty-five. $6 
to $10. 

Ralph Todd's is on a branch road to the left, half a mile from 
Garrison's. Room for twenty. $6. 

We are here so near to Halcott Centre that we will glance at the 
houses there before returning to that section of Griffin's Corners east 

HALCOTTCENTRE P. O. ""^ ^\^/[^'^''^'^.\\ n ' ^ - \u 

^^^r-^.rr r.r^ k. ^ Half a mik from Garrisons is the 

GREENE CO., N. Y. ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ p ^ ^^^ j^ ,^j ^^^^^_ 

man's store and boarding house. Room for thirty-five. S6 to $10. 



106 



THE CATSKILLS. 




A VIEW AT HALCOTT CENTRE. 



To the left of the store a road runs up into a hollow. The first 
branch road to the rig-ht leadings up quite a steep hill g-oes to Avery 

Boughton's, 
three and a half 
miles from the 
station at 
Fleischmann's. 
Room for fifty. 
Apply. 

Lorenzo Van 
Valkenburg-h's is 
a quarter of a 
mile from where 
Boug-hton's 
road turns off. 

Keeping- on 
along- this road 
half a mile we 
reach the school house. Here are three roads; the left hand one turn- 
ing- sharply up the hill to C. Carman's. Room for fifty. S5 and $6. 

Arthur Wileman's is on the middle road. Room for eig-hty. 
Apply. 

Robt. Van Valkenbergh's is on the rig-ht hand road leading- past 
the school house into the valley. Room for eig-hteen. Apply. 

Returning- now to the store we continue up the main valley, half 
a mile to Geo. Moseman's. Room for thirty. Apply. 

A. A. Van Valkenberg-'s is opposite, — just across the bridg-e. 
Room for sixty. Apply. 

The road which turns off toward the rig-ht, gfoing- up the moun- 
tain, leads to Jonathan Whitney's. Room for twenty. Apply. 

Half a mile farther on, a road turns toward the rig-ht leading- 
over the Westkill Mountain to Westkill. On this road is Jefferson 
Mead's. Room for twelve. Apply. 

On the left hand road going- on up the Little West Kill is A. B. 
Jenkins. Room for ten. Apply. 

Returning now to Griffin's Corners at the ''square," we take the 

street easterly,- — toward Highmount. 

We cross the bridge at the Herald 
office. This weekly paper keeps the 
residents of both Griffin's Corners and Fleischmann's well informed 
of the doings of the town and has a large yearly subscription list 
among the summeJ residents and cottagers. 

Opposite the Herald office is Mrs. E. Fisk's. Room for twelve. 
Apply. 



GRIFFIN'S CORNERS P. O. 
ULSTER CO., N. Y. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 107 

M. J. Ballard's is a few rods farther on. Room for thirty. 
Apply. 

Still further is W. H. Lasher's. Room for twenty. 

W. H. O'Conner's is next. Room for thirty-five. Apply. Mr. 
O'Conner also conducts an extensive laundry business. His building- 
is fitted up with the newest implements and steam machinery and his 
collection and delivery wagons go to Big Indian and Pine Hill, High- 
mount, Halcott Centre, Arkville, Margaretville, Kelly's Corners, Rox- 
bury. Grand Gorge and Gilboa, during the boarding season, to the 
great accommodation of the summer visitors. The laundry employs 
twelve hands and turns out work in excellent style. 

A little farther the Townsend Hollow road turns off toward the 
left. On this road is John W. Lasher's. Room for twenty-five. 
Apply. 

Nathan B. Furman's is close by. Room for fifteen. Apply. 

Mrs. C. Hatfield's is half a mile further. Room for thirty. Ap- 
ply- 

Griffin's Corners is a progressive town, being imbued with the 
enterprise of cottage owners. The streets are sprinkled during dry 
weather, and lighted at night. There is a good water supply from 
mountain springs and an air of neatness pervades the place. There 
has been erected this season a grand stand on the ball ground which 
has also a race track. The national game is fostered by the Fleisch- 
mann residents as well as those at the Corners and a gay crowd is 
always on hand to witness the triumphs and tribulations of the 
diamond. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

"ARKVILLE; 

DRY brook; MARGARETVII.LE, ANDES AND DEI.HI; ARENA, UNION GROVE, 
SHAVERTOWN AND DOWNSVILI.E. 

FROM Fleischmann's station to Arkville is about five miles, down 
hill nearly all the way but on a gentler grade. About a mile 
below Fleischmann's is a little village, Clovesville by name, 
where the Red Kill comes into the valley. The country about is 
sparsely settled and the cleared land is in the smaller proportion. At 



108 



THE CATSKILLS. 





ARKVILLE FROM THE NORTHWEST. 

The road at the right leads to Margaretville around the hill to the right. 
Pakataghan Mountain in the background. 

Arkville three valleys open upon a broad plain of rich bottom land. 
From the east comes the Griffin's Corners stream; from the north the 
East Branch of the Delaware River; from the south Dry Brook. With 
this added volume the Delaware River, Kast Branch, becomes quite a 
stream as it flows down throug^h Marg^aretville. 

Arkville is being- rapidly built up, scores of new cottag-es having- 
been added within a few years. It is the resort of a number of artists 

in landscape who find inspiration in the 

scenery. 

The nearest boarding- house to the sta- 
tion is R. H. Molyneux's, but a few rods away. Room for thirty. 

D. B. Cole keeps the villag^e hotel. Room for thirty. Apply. 

E. Kelly has a large house on the road toward Griffin's Corners, 



ARKVILLE P. O., 
DELAWARE CO., N. Y. 




APPROACHING ARKVILLE FROM GRIFFIN'S CORNERS. 
Meeting of the Delaware River and Dry Brook. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK 



109 



Room for one hundred and fifty. 

Room for 



half a mile from the station. 
Apply. 

Henry Deamer's is a little further on the same road, 
eig-ht. Apply. 

Embrey Scudder's is a mile beyond at the mill. Room for 
twenty. Apply. 

On the road to Roxbury, which turns up the East Delaware val- 
ley at Molyneux's, Eug-ene G. Morse has room for ten. Apply. 

C. E. Swart is on the cross road leading over from Marg-aretville 
to the Roxbury 
road . Room for 
ten. Apply. 

Across the 
bridg-e at Ark- 
ville we find the 
Hoffman House, 
P. F. Hoffman, 
Proprietor, near 
the western end of 
the bridg-e up on a 
natural terrace 
and commanding- 
fine views A r-» 

f ^ DRY BROOK VALLEY LOOKING SOUTH. 

commodations for 

one hundred and fifty. $2 per day. $7 to SIO per week. 

To the left after crossing- the bridg-e the Dry Brook road leads 
to several houses. 

C. A. Flower's is first, half a mile from the station. Room for 
twenty. Apply. 

John F. Street's is close by. Room for twenty. 
H. N. Georg-e's is half a mile farther on. Room for ten. Apply. 
Four miles up the Dry Brook Valley is the Dry Brook post-office. 
Here is a boarding--house kept by D. & O. 
Todd. Room for fifty. $6. 

William Todd takes fifteen. $8 to $10. 
R. H. Georg-e has room for twenty. Apply. 

Two miles farther up the valley the road turns to the rig-ht to 

Furloug-h Lake, the mountain resting- place of Mr. Georg-e Gould. 

Nearly two miles further is Seag-er P. O. and here is Seag-er 

Lodge, Seag-er & Fairbairn, Proprietors. Room 

for thirty. $1.50 per day. $7 per week. This 

house is about eig-ht miles from Arkville station. 

Margaretville is a brisk and bright little town lying- about a mile 

south of Arkville, — a mile and a half from the station. It is the 




DRY BROOK P. O., 
ULSTER CO., N. Y. 



SEAGER P. O, 
ULSTER CO., N.Y. 



110 



THE CATSKILLS 



MARGARETVILLEP.O 
DELAWARE CO., N. Y. 




IN MARGARETVILLE. 



market town for a larg-e section of ad- 
jacent country. It has a bank, several 
business blocks with g-ood stores, a num- 
ber of churches and hotels and is a favorite summer resort, the side 
streets and cross streets being- typical of the ideal country villag-e. 

On the road 
across from Ark- 
ville is Mrs. M. 
E. Mead's. Room 
for ten. Apply. 
Before cross- 
ing- the bridge 
into the town we 
may glance at 
the houses along 
the east bank of 
the river. 

S. F. Scott's is 
a quarter of a 
mile down oppo- 
site the River- 
side House in the village. Room for fifty. $7 to $10. 

E. Keeney's is a short distance farther down. Room for thirty. 
Apply. 

P. Dimmick's is half a mile further, nearly three miles from the 
station. Room for forty. Apply. 

S. S. Myers is two miles farther, at Huckleberry Hill. Room 
for twenty. Apply. 

Returning to the bridge we cross over into the town. The Ack- 
erly House is within a block. Accommodations for one hundred 

and fifty. $3 per 
day. $8 to $15 per 
,-*^ 'T*'^'^:!*^ isis&sMssimsmi^^^^^tmmiMi^^^^^^^K week. 

The Riverside 
House is a quarter 
of a mile down the 
river. Room for 
forty. Apply. 

On the cross 
streets and con- 
necting streets are 
several houses. 

Aug. B o i c e 

E. KELLY'S. AT ARKVILLE. takcS tCU. Apply. 




FERRis's HANDBOOK. Ill- 

Albert A. Halpern takes fifteen. Apply. 

Mrs. Janet Gill takes fifteen. Apply. 

Wm. Ackerly takes ten. Apply. 

W. N. Allaben takes twenty. Apply. 

Mrs J. McMurray's is on the Roxbury road about a mile out. 
Room for twenty. Apply. 

S. P. Ives's is also on t|;iis road. Room for thirty. Apply. 

A. J. Benedict and Mrs D. Hull have houses up in the hills about 
five miles from Marg-aretville. Each takes fifteen Write for terms. 

From Arkville two long- stag-e lines reach out into the country. 
Stag-es run daily except Sunday. One runs down the river to Downs- 
ville, a distance of twenty-six miles On the way are several board- 
ing--houses at the villag-es which the stag-e passes throug-h. Arena 
is eight miles down stream. 

ARENA P. O., •^- -^- McNaughton has the larg-est house. 

DELAWARE CO., N. Y. ^^^"^ ^^^ ^^^ty. Apply. 

E. H. Carpenter takes thirty. $6 to $8. 

W. H. Dickson takes ten. Apply. 

Elizabeth Hadden takes ten. $7. 

Union Grove is the next post-office, three miles below Arena. 
UNION GROVE P. O., ^ ^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ twenty. $5. 

DELAWARE CO., N. Y. James Van Keuren takes twenty. $5. 

^ Mrs. Emma Dawson takes fifteen. $5. 

Shavertown is three miles below Union Grove. Here is the 
Riverside Cottag-e on the bank of the river, Mrs Edwin Shafer, Pro- 
prietress Room for thirty. $5 to $8 Address Shavertown P. O., 
Delaware Co. 

The stage passes through Pepacton where there are no boarding- 
DOWNSVILLE P. O. houses and finally reaches Downsville. Here 

DELAWARE CO. N. Y. ^^^ several houses open to summer visitors. 

Thos. E. White's Riverside House accom- 
modates twenty-five. $1.50 per day. $5 to $7 per week. 

A. H. St John takes twenty. Apply 

Mrs. A. G St. John takes six. $5. 

A. E Peck takes ten $6 to $8. 

On the other stage line which zig-zag-s off in a westerly direction 
we reach Andes at a distance of twelve miles. This villag-e is nearly 
ANDES p. O ^^ larg-e as Marg-aretville, and the centre of 

DELAWARE CO. N. Y. ^" extensive dairy country. It is an old and 

well-liked summer resort, dating- backtotha 
time of the stag-e lines before the Ulster and Delaware R. R. was built. 
There are usually about two hundred summer visitors here in the 
season. 

J H- Washburn takes ten. Apply. 



112 THE CATSKILLS. 

Mrs. E H Stevenson takes ten. $6 to $10. 

Adolphus Frisbee takes twenty. Apply. ' 

John Dickson takes twenty. Apply 

James Dickson takes ten. Apply 

Mrs Sarah McCabe takes twenty. $5 and $6. 

Isaac Samuels takes twenty. Apply. 

William Doig- has room for fifteen. APP^J- 

Mrs H A Kaufman has room for twenty. Apply. 

Martin Coulter takes fifteen. Apply. 

Pratt Chamberlain takes twenty Apply. 

Peter Crispell runs the hotel. Room for thirty. Apply. 

Delhi is at the end of this stag-e line, twenty-six miles from Ark- 
ville, but it is more easily reached from Bloomville as the ride from 
there is only eight miles. See Bloomville. 

Other points reached from Arkville have houses open in the sum- 

...^.. r, /^ mer to ofuests. 

DUNRAVEN P. O., *= ..... .u ^ ^^ 

,, ^, Dunraven is six miles from the station. 

DELAWARE CO., N. Y. ^^ ..r a f a ^ ^u t, 

R. W Sanford keeps the Dunraven 

House. Room for thirty. $6 to $9. 

Olney Smith takes twenty. Apply. 

New Kingston is eight long miles, nearer nine, — back of Hal- 

^^^.. ^ ^ cottville, from which station also it may 
NEW KINGSTON P. O., ^ ' ^ , . . ^ 

^^ ^^ i., vr be reached by going over the mountain. 
DELAWARE CO., N. Y. v t^ . i ,u t- ii u 

Amos Dumond keeps the \ alley House. 

Room for twenty. $5 and $6. 

F. M. Ingles has room for fifteen. Apply. 

A W. & J M. De Silva have a house accommodating fifty at 
Grant's Mills, three miles from Arena, eleven miles from Arkville. 
Terms $6 to $9. Address to Grant's Mills P O , Delaware Co. 

Miss K. More at Cabin Hill, ten miles from Arena, eighteen 
miles from Arkville, has room for ten. Apply. Cabin Hill, P. O., 
Delaware Co. 

M. Dickson's Maple Grove House accommodates ten at Brushland 
P. O., Delaware Co., ten miles from Arkville. Apply. 

As might be surmised from the conformation of the country, 
Arkville is an excellent stopping place for sporting fisherman. Be- 
side the three streams which unite here to form the East Delaware 
River, there are half a dozen other streams near by among which 
may be mentioned the Plattekill and its tributary Weaver Hollow 
Creek and the Batavia Kill. The latter runs through a fine farming 
country and entertainment can be had at several farmers' houses, 
where boarders are not taken as a rule. The two stage lines reach a 
score of good streams less fished than some and therefore offering 
heavier basketfuls. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 



113 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



KELI.Y S CORNERS AND HALCOTTVILLE. 

WHILE these two places have separate stations on the rail- 
road they are but two miles apart and may be g-rouped in 
the same chapter, being- closely similar in character of 
scenery. 

At Arkville the railroad makes a sharp ang-le to turn northward 
into the Upper East Delaware valley. The country chang-es dis- 
tinctly, or it may be described as modified from the Arkville scenery. 
It lies flatter for one thing-. The stream doesn't hurry It loiters 
along- in a reluctant 
sort of way as if it 
had acquired the 
habit of idling- in 
the placid ponds 
above. Life seems 
to be quiet here and 
even the milk-train 
which g-oes hustling- 
throug-h the Ulster 
County reg-ion with 
breathless haste, 
here puffs along- 
carelessly, stopping- 
at every g-roup of 







-— - 









Jllllllll 










































mm 
























I 


! 








% 


^' 


^ 


•;i>V 


! 



KELLY'S CORNERS P. O., 
DELAWARE CO., N. Y. 



milk cans But even approaching kelly-s corners from the north. 

the locomotive 

seems an anomaly here We wish it wouldn't puff and scream. 

At Kelly's Corners, L D. Kelly has room for thirty. Apply. 

Georg-e Tompkins is on the road toward Halcottville across the 

Batavia Kill, about half a mile from the 
station. Room for fifteen. Apply. 

Nelson Beardsley's is on the other 
side of the valley, across the river, up on the hillside Room for 
twenty. Apply 

Halcottville is about two miles above here and the same peaceful 
scenery lies between. The first entrance into the villag-e is sudden. 
The road winds up a slight hill and around a bend to the right when, 

presto! — we are in a street lined with smart, neat cottages newly 

painted and "as bright as a button" This extends a quarter of a 



114 



THE CATSKILLS. 



HALCOTTVILLE P. O., 
DELAWARE CO., N. Y. 



mile to Kelly's Mill, and the stores. The 
station is across the bridg-e and there we 
make our start. 

The Union Hotel, H. E. Ganung-, Proprietor, is close by the sta- 
tion. Room for twenty-five. Apply. 

C. Slauson's is next above the hotel, the *Brag-g- Hollow road pass- 
ing between. Room for fifteen Apply. 

Up the Brag-g- Hollow road are several houses 
R. Sandford's is first. Room for six Apply. 
Chas. Policy's is next. Room for fifteen. Apply. 

D. W. Hubbell takes twenty. Apply. * 




MAIN STREET IN HALCOTTVILLE. 



The other road between Slauson's and the station g-oes to Rox- 
bury, running beside the mill pond which is over a fourth of a mile in 
leno-th and half that in width. Beyond this the water is backed up 
in the brook so as to add three-quarters of a mile more of excellent 
rowing- ground. Half a mile and more from the station is J B Hink- 
ley's Room for twenty-five. Apply. 

J. W. Scudder is up on the hill, about two miles from the station. 
Room for fifteen. Apply. 

W. Hewitt takes ten. Apply. 

Returning now to the station we cross the bridge at the mill over 
into the main street. 

G R Sliter's house is nearest. Room for ten. Apply. 

Geo. W. Hubbell's is next. Room for ten. $7. 

J. C. Miller's is a little farther on. Room for ten. $6. 

The roads are good in this vicinity and driving is greatly en- 
joyed. Bicyclists will find the country through this region well 
adapted to pleasureable wheeling. 



FEKKISS HANDBOOK. 



115 



CHAPTER XXVII. 



ROXBURY. 

THE six miles from Halcottville to Roxbury are soon passed over 
and without exciting- views. As we near Roxburj there is a 
peculiar formation of hill forms which once seen will always 
locate the spot again. The expression "Roxbury is just behind that 
hill" is often heard on both train and wag-on road. There are no 
hig-h mountains about Roxbury and its elevation being- about 1,500 
feet above sea-level the hig-h lands are apparently reduced by that 
much leaving- them to appear as hills. 




IN ROXBURY, LOOKING NORTH. 

Mrs. Lauren's grounds at the left in the ioregrouud. 



ROXBURY P. O , 
DELAWARE CO., N. Y. 



The villag-e is incorporated and is laid out along both sides of a 
main street about a mile in leng-th. This street has wide sidewalks 

and street lamps. There is a good water- 
works, a hig-h school, several churches and 
g-ood stores. There is also a circulating- 
library and reading room. 

Not many boarders g-o here for the summer, but many visitors go 
to see the Gould Memorial Church, a handsome piece of architectural 
work. Beside this church (Reformed) there are also Baptist and 
Methodist churches. 

The Delaware Valley House is the only hotel at present. P. H. 
Mitchell, Proprietor. It is a short quarter-mile from the station. $2 
per day. 



116 



THE CATSKILLS. 



Mrs. G. W. Lauren's is close by. Room for forty. $10 to $15. 

J. B. Scudder's is next door. Room for fifteen. Apply 

A. Cronk's is a quarter of a mile down the street opposite the 
Gould church. Room for fifteen. Apply. 

Close by on a branch road is Mrs. Harvey White's with room for 
twenty. Apply. 

P. Richtmyer's is here also. Room for thirty. Apply. 

M. D. Parsons's is on a second branch road. Room for twenty. 

Up the railroad at the settlement called Hubbell's Corners are 
two houses 

Geo. Van Valkenberg-h takes fifteen $6 and $7. 




KEATOR'S POND AT ROXBURY. 

The town lies just bejoud the trees seen over the end of the pond. 

I. H. Tyler takes twenty-five. Apply. 

Two miles down the river from Roxbury is a fine fall of some 
sixty feet known as Stratton's Falls. About half the distance is 
Keator's Creamery with a pretty pond 

Chas. L. Hicks's house is on the hill at the head of the falls. 
Room for fifty. Apply. 

Over in the West Settlement about three miles west of the vil- 
lag-e is Thos S. Smith's. Room for twenty-five. Apply. 

R. S. Smith's is near by. Room for ten. 

The town clock is in the hig-h-school tower and strikes the hours 
and half hours on one of the sweetest toned bells ever heard At 
night when all is still its voice sing's out with gentle complaint that 
another day has flown, and wistful query as to how it has been 
spent. In this bell the Roxbury folk have a treasure, if they appre- 
ciate it. 

FINE PHOTOGRAPHS of any of the views pictured in this book (and many others) for sale 
Et prices noted on back cover page. K.. FERRIS, Artist Phoiographer, 

West Shokan, N. Y. 



FEKRIS'S HANDBOOK. 117 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 

GRAND GORGE AND SOUTH GILBOA ; 

PRATTSVILLE, GII.BOA, CONESVILLE, MANORKIEL, MACKEy'S, 
BROOME CENTRE. 

FOR two miles beyond Roxbury the scenery is of the same quiet 
character as about that pleasant town, and at this distance is 
the settlement of HubbelPs Corners. This has a pretty loca- 
tion at the junction of three hollows. Montgomery Hollow comes in 
from the east, and Pleasant valley from the west, with the upper 




GRAND GORGE LOOKING BACK FROM THE ROAD TO GILBOA. 

East Delaware Valley,— what remains of it, — from the north. Each 
bring-s two roads, so there is a raison d'etre for the name as to the 
" Corners " part of it. Just above here the scenery changes rapidly. 
The mountains seem to grow, and crowd together, as we look at 
them, and when the track carries us around the last curve into the 
gorge, the situation is one of grandeur. High up on the right is 
Irish Mountain, and Bald Mountain looms up on the left, with steep 
sides plunging down to the gorge through which the stream dashes 
along. Passing through this defile we come out again into open 
hillside farming country, devoted to dairy pursuits. 

The station is a short mile from the old town of Moresville 
GRAND GORGE. P. o., ^^^^^^^ ^^^ x^^'^v^^^ Grand Gorge. On en- 

DELAWARE CO.. N. Y. ^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^'^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ '''^^''^^' 

" square '' where the several roads come to- 



118 THE CATSKILLS. 

g-ether. The hotel is on the west side of the square. G. L. Shaffer, 
Proprietor. $1.50 per day. Special rates by the week. 

J. M. Cronk's is on the south side of the square. Room for 
thirty-five. $6 to $10. 

F. V. Riley's is on the road to Prattsville about one mile out 
from the square. Room for ten. Apply. 

S. E. Fowler's is next on the same road. Room for twenty-five. 
$6 to $8. 

J. H. Chatfield & Son have a house nearly to Prattsville on this 
road. Room for forty. $7 to SIO. 

On the road to Stamford about a mile away is O. B. Simonson's. 
Room for twenty-five. $7 to $8. 

E. De Silva is on a branch road to the left about a mile beyond 
Simonson's. This road leads over the mountain to Hobart and also 
to Roxbury, but it is not usually in g-ood condition. Room for thirty. 
Apply. 

Mrs. T. H. Dent's is up in a hollow toward the south, about a 
mile away from the square. Room for ten. Apply. 

The villag-e of Prattsville is five miles southeast of Grand Gorgfe, 
p„ . — from the station, — ^just over the county line. 

GREENE CO N Y ''^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^ restful peace about it which is 
most g-rateful to the weary worker. A reg-ular 
stag-e runs summer and winter to Grand Gorg-e station, but several 
of the houses have their own conveyances for g"uests. 

The scenery along" the way is entertaining" in its variety and pe- 
culiar features even when viewed from the stage. The Schoharie 
Creek is in sig"ht the last two miles of the drive ; here a wide and 
placid stretch of open water with g-rassy banks and overhang"ing" 
trees, contrasting" powerfully with the tumultuous roar of the cata- 
ract at Devaseg"o Falls just below. , 

We cross the fine iron bridge over the Schoharie upon entering- 
the village. Down the creek on the village side goes the road to 
Devasego Falls and Manorkill Falls, and on to Gilboa. 

The Devasego House is at the Falls about a mile and a half be- 
low the bridge. Room for forty. $7 and $8. The falls are very 
fine, horseshoe in form and about fifty feet high. Safe stairs have 
been built so that one may climb from one outlook to another, and 
g"o down into the gorge below. It is a place of great interest and 
visited by hundreds from every direction, who come in stage loads 
and picnic in the extensive grounds of the House. 

The Manorkill Falls are about two miles below, on the Manor- 
kill which comes tumbling down into the Schoharie over a broken 
ledge of over three hundred feet. The bridge carrying the road 
crosses the Kill about half way up the falls giving a near view of 



FEKRIS'S HANDBOOK. 119 

the upper part. For the lower part one must g-o down to the rocks 
below, which can be reached easily by a road just below the bridge. 

On the way to these falls one will notice the peculiar conical 
sand hills about half a mile before reaching- the bridg-e. There is 
a cluster of these, some larg-e and others smaller, resembling- im- 
mense ant hills. They stand in a curve of the hig-h ledg-e over which 
the Manorkill falls and sug-g-est a mig-hty windstorm which may 
have eddied about when the the sand was dry and heaped it up. Now 
they are covered with g-rass and native shrubbery. 

Returning- now to the bridg-e where we entered Prattsville we 
take the road into the villag-e. 

The Fowler House is close at hand on the left. $2 a day ; $7 to 
$10 by the week. Accommodations for seventy. 

In front of this house is a larg^e and ancient elm covering- about 
10,000 square feet with its heav;y shade. Some branches are so long- 
and heavy that they have to be propped up. 

Mrs. George Sach's is a few rods further on the same side, next 
to the Reformed Church. Room for seventy-live (in three houses). 
Apply. 

Passing- on a little way we come to several houses close tog-ether 
in the heart of the villag-e. 

Mrs. W. Randolph takes fifteen. Apply. 

J. H. Gibson, opposite, takes twenty. Apply. 

Mrs, C. K. Bush takes fifteen. Apply. 

Mrs. Thos. B. Myers has room for fifteen. Apply. 

A little further on we come to the post-ofiice in the front of the 
building- occupied by the villag-e newspaper. The Prattsville News, 
M. G. Marsh, editor and Proprietor, and the Postmaster also. 

The Prattsville House, D. Miller, Proprietor, is nearly opposite 
the post-office. $2 a day. Special rates by the week or month. 

A. Lutz's is just above the post-office. Room for fifteen. Apply. 

C. K. Benham takes fifteen. Apply. 

W. X. Graham has room for fifty. $8 to $10. 
W. J. McWilliams takes thirty. $7 to $10. 

D, S. Fowler, just above the Methodist Church, takes ten. Apply. 
James Richtmyer's is opposite the Episcopal Church. Room for 

sixty. $7 upward. 

A. Newcombe's is out on the Windham Road half a mile. Room 
for twenty-five. Apply. 

O. G. Beckwith's Glenwood House is nearly half way to Lexing-- 
ton at the end of the great cliff along the creek. Room for twenty. 
Apply. 

H. A. Wilbur's is up on the hill about four miles away. Room 
for fifteen. Apply. 



120 THE CATSKILLS. 

W. C. Maben's is five miles distant. Room for fifteen. Apply. 

Pratt's Rocks constitute one of the curiosities of Prattsville. 
They are perhaps half a mile from the villag-e toward Lexington. 
A hig-h cliflF comes out boldly on the left, and on the face of it are 
sculptured in alto I'elievo several busts and designs, at the instance 
of Col. Pratt who had a large tannery here many years ago 

The drives about Prattsville are very delightful, the roads ex- 
cellent and the scenery of a highly interesting character. 
GILBOA P O Gilboa is reached by another stage line 

SCHOHARIE CO N Y ^^om Grand Gorge. The road is short, — 

only four miles, — but extremely rough and 
hilly, passing over out-cropping ledges and rocks. The country is 
fair to look upon, and near Gilboa becomes wilder. The Schoharie 
is encountered just before entering the village and crossed by a pretty 
iron bowstring bridge. This style of bridge is common in the Cats- 
kills and being light and graceful is always an addition to the lands- 
cape. Two hundred yards below the bridge there is a fine falls, 
thirty feet high, across the entire width of the stream. 

Crossing the bridge into the town we find the Gilboa House, 
Chas. Tuttle, Proprietor. $2 a day. $7 to $10 by the week. 

Charles Zelie's is a few steps above the post-office. Room for 
fifteen. Apply. 

Daniel Darling takes fifteen. Apply. 

E. E. Howe takes twenty. Apply. 

George A. Hartwell takes twelve. Apply. 

L. S. and C. O'Brien have a house in the village, also a farm a 
few miles out. They can accommodate twenty-five. Apply. 

Solomon Sellick's is at the upper end of the village. Room for 
ten. Apply. 

Albert Clark's is at Manorkill Falls, about half a mile on the 
road to Prattsville. 

D. W. Southard's is up on the hills a mile from the village. 
Room for twenty. Apply. 

N. C. Wyckoff's is near Southard's. Room for thirty. Apply. 

O. Cain's is on the Grand Gorge road about a mile and a half 
from Gilboa post-office. Room for thirty. Apply. 

Taking the road up the Manorkill valley we shall find some vil- 
lages with houses open to summer guests. 

At West Conesville post-office, three miles from Gilboa, Mrs. 
Mary E. Myers has room for twelve. $5. 

Three miles distant is Conesville post-office, and here Geo. H. 
Bloodgood has room for ten. $5. 

Manorkill post-office is two miles further and here are two 
houses. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 121 

S. N. Hubbard takes twenty. $5 to $10. , 

Mrs. M. D. Hammond takes twelve. $5. 

Following- down the Schoharie Creek about seven miles from 
Gilboa we reach North "Blenheim Post Office. M. C. Wrig-ht has a 
house here with room for twenty. Apply. 

Taking- the road up the Plattenkill valley about seven miles we 
find D. M. Leonard's at Broome Centre P. O. Room for forty. $6 
to $8. 

A little more than a mile east of Broome Centre is Mackey's P. 
O. Here is W. M. Sellick's house with room for twelve. $5. 

From Grand Gorg-e the railroad curves sharply toward the west 
and soon reaches the heig-ht of land in this pass between the west 
branch of the Delaware River and the Bearkill, which is a tributary 
of the Schoharie. The elevation reached by the railroad is 1845 
feet above tide. Here we stop at the South Gilboa station. 

SOUTH GILBOA. 

The villag-e of South Gilboa lies up in the hills about two miles 
northeast from the station. Near the station is Mayham's Pond, or 
Lake, as it is now called, a pretty sheet of water covering about 
twenty acres. B. S. Mayham has a house here with room for 
twelve. Apply. 

E. A. -Sowles's is a mile from the station. Room for ten. 
$6 and $7. 

Stephen Conrow's is half a mile farther. Room for ten. $8. 

H. L. Stevens's is close by Conrow's. Room *for ten. $6. 

D. Mayham's is half a mile farther. Room for ten. Apply. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

STAMFORD ; 

JEFFERSON, DAVENPORT, HARPERSFIFLD, ETC. 

WITHOUT transcendant natural advantages, Stamford has 
achieved eminence as a summer resort through rightly di- 
rected enterprise and well developed push. It is a villag-e 
of moderate dimensions, built upon a hillside, a near-by lake on the 
one side, and a not very high mountain on the other. It has "ele- 
vation," being- 18U0 feet above the sea-level. With this "outfit" 



122 



THE CATSKILLS. 



the g-ood people of Stamford, with Dr. Churchill in the van, have 
proceeded to create a cabinet-finished town whose very breath is 
of tasteful eleg-ance. The building-s are of handsome desig-ns. and 
" neat as wax " with frequent painting- and staining ; and they stand 
well back from the street lines with the smoothest of velvety lawns 
about them, gay with many flowers. Electric lamps light the walks 
at nig-ht, and a well-ordered waterworks brings the best of water 
from mountain springs into the houses. Underg-round a scientific 
system of sewerag-e removes the waste products of civilized life. 

Five churches, of as many different denominations, uphold the 
distinctive differences of the faiths of our fathers in lines Roman 




THh BUSINESS CtNTRE OF STAMEORD. 

1 he Delaware House jdu the extreme right. The cupola of the Hamilton House above 
the trees in the distance. 

Ceitholic, Episcopal, Baptist, Methodist Episcopal and Presbyterian. 
The watchful eye of the American Eagle keeps tab upon the National 
Bank ; the Public Library holds aloft the mellow-rayed lamp of 
the classics in one hand and the vivid blaze of modern literature in 
the other ; the Union Free School and Seminary radiates throughout 
the surrounding country the intelligence and wisdom of the end of 
the century. What more could one ask ? And yet the half has not 
been told, — cannot be. And if our keener-eyed friends, the philoso- 
phers, are to be believed as to their declaration that a place is not a 
location but a " condition of thought," we have still to reckon with 
the mental atmosphere of Stamford ; — its finest, subtlest influence to 
take into account, and this is not to be wantonly attempted with 
a pen none too familiar with its life. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 123 

Besides its settled inhabitants Stamford has a large summer con- 
tingent of cottage owners whose pretty houses are scattered all about 
the town nucleus. Some of these are models in the line of summer 
country-seats ; all give evidence of refinement and comfort. 

There are many boarding-houses and hotels in Stamford with an 
aggregate capacity of twelve hundred guests. 

D. C. Hoagland's is nearest the station, but a few rods down the 
track toward Hobart. Room for twenty-five. Apply. 

Approaching the heart of the town from the station we come to 

...^^r,r. r, « thc Hamiltou House on the corner of Main 

STAMFORD P. O., o. ^ t^ m n j • ^i, • ^ a 

DELAWARE CO.. N. Y- ^^- ^- ^^ Tallmadge IS the proprietor and 

there are accommodations for one hundred. 
$2 to $3 per day. $8 to $20 per week. 

Turning up Main St., northward, — to the left, — the next house 
is Churchill Hall, three large buildings connected by covered corri- 
dors. These are known as East Hall, West Hall and Central Hall. 
Together they accommodate three hundred guests. In the rear of 
Central Hall on one corner is a large round tower with conical roof 
and a balcony at the top commanding a fine view in all direc- 
tions. $3.50 per day. $12 to $20 per week. Dr. S. E. Churchill, 
Proprietor. 

Opposite Churchill Hall is the post-office and next to it is the 
house of Mrs. Lyman Goodenough. Room for twenty. $10 to $12. 

Next to Mrs. Goodenough's on the side street is C. C. Canfield's 
cottage. Room for thirty-five. $7 to $10 

Next to Canfield's is Benj. McKillip's Mountain View House. 
Room for sixty. Apply. 

E. G. Covel's "Ingleside" is next. Room for thirty-five. $8 
to $15. 

Simpson terrace is at the top of this hill,— Seminary Hill,— Mrs. 
R. C. Simpson, Proprietress. Room for seventy-five. Apply. 

Returning now to the post-office we find Greycourt Inn across 
the street next to Churchill Hall. S. I. Brown is the proprietor and 
accommodates seventy-five. $2.50 per day. $10 upward per week. 

Going over the hill and down toward the west end of the town 
we come to Harpers St. leading off to the left. H. C. Lawrence's is 
out this way near the Catholic Church. Room for twenty-five. 

$7 to $10. 

G. H. Bancroft's is a short distance beyond. Room for seventy- 
five. Apply. 

Returning to Main st. we keep on a few rods to Mrs. H. S. Pres- 
ton's pretty " Westholm." Room for forty. $8 to $15. 

The New Grant House is a few rods farther and across the 
street. Room for one hundred. $12 to $25. 



124 



THE CATSKILLS. 



Farther on almost to the top of the rise of the hill is Wm. D. 
Atchison's. Room for forty. $8 to $10. 

Following- on into Lake st., about half a mile away is A. C. 
Van Dyke's " Granthurst " with room for fifty. Apply. 

A mile further at the Lake (Utsayantho) is Mrs. H. Stanley's. 
Room for twenty-five. Apply. 

Hug-h Govern's " Cedarhurst " shelters twenty. $7. 

Returning- to the corner at the Hamilton House and g-oing- on 
eastward, passings the block of stores we reach Dr. H. P. Hubbell's. 
Room for twelve. Apply. 

The Delaware House is on the next corner. F. M. Ting-ley is 
the proprietor. Rates $2 to $3 per day. $8 to $14 per week. 




THE "west END" OF STAMFORD. 
Westholm on the right. New Grant House in the distance at the extreme left. 



At the next corner on the rig-ht, the road leading- down the east 
side of the river to Hobart turns off. On this road is G. W. Ken- 
dall's new house, with accommodations for sixty. Apply. 

On this road also is Mrs. G. H. Leonard's. Room for sixteen. 
$6 and $7. 

And further on, about a mile from the station is John Fuller's. 
Room for thirty. Apply. 

Returning- to the corner we g^o farther eastward one block to E. 
E. Van Dyke's "Greenhurst." Room for twenty. $7 to $10. 

Farther on is A. W. Parsons. Room for ten. Apply. 

A. L. Churchill's "Cold Spring- House" is next, half a mile 
from the station. Room here for seventy-five. $7 to $10.. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 125 

J. W. Maynard's is next. Room for thirty. Apply. 

A. G. McLean's is still farther out. Room for ten. Apply. 

A short distance further on this road, which leads to Grand 
Gorg-e, is a toll-g-ate which seems wholly out of place in the vicinity 
of such a modern villag-e as Stamford. It is a little surprising- that 
it has been permitted to remain there so long-, a relic of the Middle 
Ag-es. 

Mrs. S. L. Cotton's is on the hill back of the Seminary. Room 
for twelve. Apply. 

Beside these houses there are about thirty-five others accommo- 
dating from ten to twenty in the villag-e and at varying- distances 
outside. rA brief mention is made of them here and their exact loca- 
tion is best learned by an inquiry at the station. 

Geo. Willert has room for ten. Apply. 

Banks Cornell takes fifteen. Apply. 

Mrs. Stephen Mabey takes ten. Apply. 

S. T. Wheeler has room for twenty-five. Apply. 

A. J. Greg-ory has room for eight. Apply, 

C. A. Crowell takes ten. Apply. 

Mrs. V. Z. Wyckoff has room for ten. $7 to $10. 

John D. Minor takes twelve. Apply. 

G. C. Harleff has room for twenty-five. Apply. 

D. P. McLaury takes twelve. $5 to $7. 

Lucius H. Hinman has room for twenty. Apply. 

Most of the above-mentioned houses are in the town not over 
half a mile from the station. Those about one mile away are in this 
list: 

A. F. Judson has room for twenty. Apply. 

John Chichester has room for ten. Apply. 

Daniel Craft takes thirty. $7 and $8. 

H. C. Cook takes ten. $7. 

Geo. H. Ruff takes twenty. $7. 

Jno. W. Stewart has room for fifteen. Apply. 

Geo. A. Bog-gs has room for twenty. $6 to $8. 

Mrs. E. Wheeler (Rosemont ) takes twenty. $10 to $15. 

From two to three miles distant from the railroad station are 

these : 

Wm. W. Simons takes fifteen. Apply. 

D. B. Hillis has room for twenty. Apply. 

R. V. Powell has room for ten. Apply. 

Frank Warner has room for fifteen. Apply. 

S. M. Van Loan takes twelve. $6. 

M. B. Govern takes twenty. $6. 

Mrs. Fred Grant has room for twelve. $6. 



126 THE CATSKILI.S. 

A. S. Grant has room for fifteen. Apply. 

I. C. Greg-ory takes fifteen. Apply. 

E. G. Brockway takes twenty. Apply. 

While these lists do not exhaust the possible accommodations 
the writer believes that they cover accurately the principal houses. 
If any house has been omitted it has not been throug'h lack of care- 
ful inquiry and subsequent investig-ation. 

Special mention should be made of the Tower House on the 
summit of Mt. Utsayantho south of the villag-e. At this house per- 
sons wishing- to remain over night to witness the sunrise, are ac- 
commodated. The views from this point, 3365 feet above tide water 
are always fine and it is a popular place of resort for visitors who 
may enjoy the g-rand outlook without the labor of a mountain climb, 
for a well-kept road winds all the way up to the top. An observa- 
tory, — the "tower," — fifty feet high, reaches up above the tree-tops 
and gives an unobstructed view in all directions and on the top board 
of the protecting railing the line of sight to each prominent moun- 
tain-peak is marked, with notes as to its height and distance. It is 
said that the view from here on a clear day covers over ten thousand 
square miles, embracing parts of three states. 

The roads are excellent all about Stamford and driving is a 
favorite pastime. The bicyclist will find his wheel available for 
continual and enjoyable use. 

Stamford is the railroad station for several other resorts. Two 
regular lines of stages leave here daily, excepting Sunday, through- 
out the year ; one to Oneonta, 27 miles, and the other to Richmond- 
ville, 18 miles. The first goes out Harpers street westward, through 
Harpersfield at a distance of four miles. Here there are a few 
houses open to boarders. 

HARPERSFIELD P. O., ^' J^^elyn keeps the Globe Hotel. Ac- 

DELAWARE CO N Y ' ^ommodations for fifty. $1.50 per day. $8 

per week. 

C. W. Phijicle tgikes ten. $5 and $6. 

Abram Yonson takes twelve. $6. 

Three miles north of here is North Harpersfield P. O., where 
Mrs. H. O. Nichols has a house with room for ten. $6 to $8. 

Three miles beyond Harpersfield the stage passes through 
North Kortright and seven miles farther on reaches Davenport, four- 
teen miles from Stamford. Here are several houses, and within a 
short walk is Smith's Lake, a considerable body of water affording 
DAVENPORT P. O., pleasures of boating and swimming. 

DELAWARE CO. N. Y. ^* ^' Sheldon has room for fifteen. 

Apply. 

Jno. K. Sexsmith has room for twenty. Apply. 



FEKKIS S HANrxBOOK. 



127 




ENTERING PRATTSVILLE. 
Fowler House on the left. Mrs. Sach's house next above. See page ii8. 



James Van Buren has room for fifteen. Apply. 

P. M. Hummell, two miles from town, has room for twelve. $6. 

Fergusonville P. O. is two miles from Davenport and here are 
two houses. 

Mrs. J. H. Wilber takes eight. $6. 

S. C. Lockwood takes ten. Apply. 

Four miles beyond Davenport is Davenport Centre P. O. and 
here J. M. Hebbard and R. L. Hebbard each take fifteen. Apply 
for terms. 

Nine miles more remain to complete the journey to Oneonta. 
At Davenport one may take a train for Cooperstown a-nd Otseg-o 
Lake, distant twenty-five miles. 

p Q The other stage line runs north from 

SCHOHARIE CO., N. Y. Stamford, passing through Jefferson at seven 

miles. 

Here are several houses taking summer boarders. 

Isaac M. Hubbard's Pleasant Valley House takes thirty-five. 
$6 and S8. 

H. M. Clark takes twenty. $6. 

David Y. Reed takes twenty-five. $6. 

M. S. Wilcox takes ten. $6. 

Will Hubbard takes thirty. $6. 

Miss B. Tyler has rooms for twelve. $6. 

W. D. Gault has rooms for ten. Apply. 

B. E. Davenport has rooms for fifteen. Apply. 



128 



THE CATSKILLS. 



S. E. Coon has room for twenty. $6 to $8. 

Prom Jefferson the sta^e g"oes on seven miles farther to Summit 
and four miles still farther to Richmondville. 

Other resorts are reached by private conveyance from the Stam- 
ford station. There are houses with accommodations for boarders 
at South Jefferson five miles distant. 

C. A. Goodenoug-h takes twenty. $5 to $6. 

Geo. W. Franklin takes ten. $5. 

Also others at Ruth, eig-ht miles ; East Davenport, ten miles ; 
Ferg-usonville, ten miles, Warnerville, fifteen miles. A line to the 
postmaster at any of these post-offices will bring the names of per- 
sons desiring- guests. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

HOBART. 

HOBART is but four miles from Stamford down the valley of the 
Delaware River, west Branch. It is a pleasant ride by rail» 
— much more so by either of the two roads which go down, 





VIEW OF STAMFORD LOOKING BACK FROM THE WESTERLY ROAD TO HOBART. 

The Tower of Churchill Hall left of centre. Simpson Terrace in the centre over roof of Churchill 
Hall Mrs. Cotton's on the hill at the left. 



FERRIS S HANDBOOK. 



129 




HOBART FROM THE STAMFORD ROAD. 



one on each side of the stream. The view of Stamford looking- back 
from the westerly road is very striking-, the tower of Churchill Hall 
being- a marked feature. 

Hobart is an old town with a history, but it has also a determi- 
nation not to be left as a monument of by-g^one days, and g-oes on 
with the procession of to-day, with such courtly demand for a seat 
in the band wag-on as may not cast a shadow upon the dignity of 
the honorable past. Which explains in part the constantly increas- 
ing- throng- of summer visitors within its borders. 

The Barrett House, Wm. Barrett, Proprietor, is up in the main 
street, to the rig-ht as we enter it from the station. $1.50 per day. 
Special rates by the week. 

Turning- to the left we g-o down the street and up the little hill 
on the road running- toward Almeda along- that side of the river. 

A. J. Van Dyke's is the first house. Room for twelve. Apply. 

Jno. C. McMurdy's is next. Room for twenty. Apply. 

O. B. Foote's is the first farm house beyond the villag-e, half a 
mile from the station. Room for twelve. Apply. 

Returning- now to the bridg-e we cross into the other section of 
the town. The road running- directly from the bridg-e g-oes to Stam- 
ford and on it are several houses. 

F. A. Lamb's is close by, on the left. Room for twenty. Apply. 

J. S. Hanford's is opposite the church. Room for twenty-five. 
$7 to $10. 

C. W. Ives's is next beyond the church. Room for twenty-five. 
$6 to $8. 



130 THE CATSKILLS. 

Mrs. Faulkner's is just back of Ives's. Room for ten. Apply. 

Near by is Jas. Reynolds. Room for fifteen. 

A quarter of a mile farther out is Mrs. Alice Gilmore's. Room 
for ten. Apply. 

R. V. Powell's is nearly half way to Stamford on this road. 
Room for ten. Apply. 

D. B. Grant's is next to Powell's. Room for fifteen. Apply. 
Returning" now to the bridg^e we may take the road to Almeda 

on this side of the stream, — the southern. 

John H. Hoag-land's is the first. Room for ten. Apply. 

E. Barlow's is nearly a quarter of a mile further, — half a mile 
from the station. Room for twenty. $6 to $8. 

T. M. Grif&n's is just beyond the bridg-e on this road. Room for 
twenty. $6 to $7. 

Geo. M. Moore takes twelve. Apply. 

W. H. McClelland's is over a mile from the station. Room for 
ten. Apply. 

On the Gilmore road is Homer Butler's, two miles from the sta- 
tion. Room for twelve. S5. 

The roads about Hobart are excellent and the scenery very pretty. 
The attractions of Stamford are within easy reach, by rail or team, 
and many people find a most enjoyable rest in this old villag^e. 

CHAPTER XXXI. 

SOUTH KORTRIGHT ( ALMEDA P. O.) AND BLOOMVILLE. 

SOUTH KORTRIGHT is what the railroad people call out when 
the station at Almeda is reached. It is a small villag-e with a 
larg-e creamery where 12,000 quarts of milk are handled daily. 
This means that about 1200 cows are eng-ag-ed in steady work in this 
vicinity. There are some fine building-s, a United Presbyterian 
Church and two handsome estates. One of them is the summer 
residence of Mr. Jas. McLean of the firm of Phelps, Dodg-e & Co. 
Across the river S. W. Andrews, Esq., is laying- out an elegant place 
about a new and handsome mansion. Over on that side of the river 
are two houses on the road to Bloomville. 

W. S. Nesbitt takes twenty. $5 and $6. 

Mrs. J. MacDonald takes ten. Apply. 

On the road to Hobart on the south side of the river is D. C. 
Sharpe's, a short mile from the station. Room for fifteen. $7 to $10. 

Taking- the road up the hill opposite Sharp's we find G. H. Pol- 



FERKIS S HANDBOOK. 



131 




ALMEDA FROM D. C. SHARPE'S. 



ley's distant a mile and a half from this corner. Room for fifteen. 
$5 to $8. 

A. T. Ryer's is on a cross road. Room for fifteen. Apply. 

The drive " around the block" is a favorite one from Almeda, — 
that is g"oing- up one side of the river to Hobart and down on the 
other. The scenery is that of a thrifty farming- section, good build- 
ing's with pleasant grounds, g-reat herds of good cattle and well kept 
farms. The extraordinary size of the barns is quite noticeable. 
The roads are shaded by larg-e overhanging trees making- the ride 
delightful even upon a hot day. 



BLOOMVILLK, DELHI AND BOVINA. 



BLOOMVILLE P 
DELAWARE CO 



O., 
N. Y. 



Bloomville is the terminus of the Ulster and Delaware R. R. at 
present, but it seems quite probable that it 
will be extended to Delhi, the county seat, 
within the near future. It is a pleasant vil- 
lage three times as larg-e as Almeda, but not yet much of a summer 
resort. 

G. A. Evans's is close by the station. Room for ten. $5. 
M. F. Allison's has room for five. Apply. 
D. H. Kimball has room for ten. Apply. 

J. D. Lawrence's is a quarter of a mile away. Room for ten. 
Apply. 

J. E. Powell takes four. Apply. 



132 THE CATSKILLS. 

Wm. Shaw has a farm three miles out. He takes ten. S6. 

A stag-e runs daily (excepting- Sunday) 
DELHI P. O., ^ T^ 11.- • t,^ -1 

^. ^, to Delhi eigfht miles away. 

DELAWARE CO., N. Y. "^ ^ ^^ ^ .^ , , " i, ,.1, _ 

F. H. Grifl&s has a larg-e house with room 

for one hundred. Apply. 

John Hudson takes forty. Apply. 

Robert Young- takes ten. Apply. 

John McMurray takes ten. Apply. 

Daniel W. Shaw takes ten. $8. 

H. P. Hunt takes five. Apply. 

Miss M. A. McLaury takes five. Apply. 

George W. Grant takes six. Apply. 

BOVINA CENTRE P. C, ^^«^^f ^'^^^ ^^^^™^ '° ^^'^^^ ^^"■ 

DELAWARE CO.. N. Y. ^'^ ^''^ ^^^^^ ^^^^- ^^'^ ^'^ ^ ^^^ ^'''''^' 

taking- boarders. 

Mrs. C. Loughran takes ten. $5 and $6. 

N. Dickson takes twelve. Apply. 

Elmer Hastings takes five. Apply. 



):5:$;$$i$€t 



CHAPTEP XXXII. 

THE STONY CLOVE. 

Chichester's, lanesville, edgewood, kaaterskill junction. 

THE Stony Clove is a deep notch between Hunter Mountain on 
the West and Plateau Mountain on the east. It is the middle 
of three notable passes, — notable because of their g-reat depth 
as compared with the heig-ht of the mountains on either side. The 
g-ap to the west of Stony Clove, — between. Hunter Mountain and Big- 
Westkill Mountain is Diamond Notch; the g-ap east of it. Mink 
Hollow, — between Plateau Mountain and Mink Mountain. There 
are several others through this same rang-e. Deep Notch, or Echo 
Notch, between Bushnellville- and Westkill being the principal one. 
How they were caused is not apparent. The comet theory of Igna- 
tius Donnelly in " Ragnarok " presents itself for consideration, but 
it seems scarcely possible to get a satisfactory mental grasp of the 
conditions existing in order to test the theory. From what one may 
see in the Clove, appearances indicate a tremendous lifting force 
from below, which not only raised the mountains higher, but split 



FERRIS S HANDBOOK. 



133 




THE LAKE IN THE STONY CLOVE, LOOKING NORTH-TOWARD HUNTER. 

The railroad runs on the bench up on the right. 

off Plateau Mountain from Hunter Mountain, leaving the sharp bot- 
tom of the cleft to be partially filled with g-reat chunks and chips 
loosened at the time, or by the action of frost and water afterward. 
This explanation is sugg-ested by the "matching-" of the ledg-es on 
both sides of the clove. They are exrctly opposite and of the same 
extent, in altitude as well as long-itudinally. 

Whatever the cause the result is most interesting- and without 
counterpart in the reg-ion. At the " heig-ht of land " in the notch the 
elevation is 2,071 feet above the sea-level, Hunter Mountain being- 
4,052 feet; and Plateau Mountain only 200 feet lower. With nearly 




STONE IN THE STONY CLOVE. 



134 



THE CATSKILLS. 



CHICHESTER'S P. O., 
ULSTER CO., N. Y. 



all of this difference in elevation in view from the clove the effect 
may be imag-ined, but not described. 

The Stony Clove and Catskill Mountain R. R. makes use of this 
notch for a short cut into the Tannersville and Hunter Reg-ion, start- 
ing- at Phoenicia. This road is built on the narrow g-aug-e, so passen- 
g-ers transfer at Phoenicia to the Stony Clove trains, which stand just 
across the platform. The track first crosses the Esopus Creek on a 
curving- bridg-e, dashes across the main street of the town and close 
beside the Tremper House, climbing- up with every rod of advance. 
For a mile or so the country is rug-g-ed and not much to see. Then 
the Ox Clove, a beautiful hollow, opens on the left in delig-htful con- 
cave lines The train halts and "Chiches- 
ter's" is called. From the station the road 
leads down the hill to the old Stony Clove 
stag-e road which is probably in better condition to-day than when 
passeng-ers were all taken throug-h in wag-ons and stag-es. A few rods 
to the left on this road from the junction is William Almy's Public 
House. Room for twenty. $1.50 per day. 

P. Chichester's is across the bridg-e, to the rig-ht as you reach the 
stag-e road, — at the foot of Ox Clove. Room for twelve. Apply. 

Mrs. J. A. Flynn's is a mile and a half up the Stony Clove to- 
ward Lanesville, about midway between the two places. Room for 
twelve. $5 and $6. 

Just beyond Chichester's, — a villag-e wholly devoted to the run- 
ning of the larg-e chair and cabinet work factory, — on the rig-ht comes 

in the Warner Kill 
from Warner Hollow. 
This hollow is not 
well seen from the 
R. R. but is very 
beautiful from the 
highway. Timothy- 
berg and Karlberg 
are seen in reverse 
from their positions 
from the De Vail Hol- 
low at Mount Pleas- 
ant. The Warner 
Kill is a trout-stream 
of deserved reputa- 
tion. At the foot of 
this hollow the railroad crosses the Stony Clove stream and comes 
over to the westerly side of the clove. For half a mile it runs side 
l>y side with the highway and then the brook comes over on that 




NEAR CHICHESTER'S. 



FERRIS S HANDBOOK. 



13S 



LANESVILLE P. O., 
GREENE CO., N. Y 



side too, to join them, and crowds so close that the railroad jumps it 
and goes back to stay on the other side. From here the valley widens 
a little and there is quite a little rich level bottom land which is till- 
able, so there is a larg^er settlement here. 

This station is Lanesville, and there are several houses here open 
to summer boarders. 

John Jansen's is close by the station, a 
few steps down the track. Room for twenty- 
five. Apply. 

Taking- the road from the station down to the stage road we may 
go first to the left, — down the clove. Crossing the bridge the first 
house is F. A, Barber's about a quarter of a mile from the station. 
Room for twenty-five. $7 to $S. 

The Methodist Church is next and just below that is Chas. R. 
Lane's. Room for twenty-five. Apply. 

Harry D. Lane's is next. Room for thirty. $S to $10. 

Returning to the bridge and the road from the station we turn 
to the right. A few rods away the Diamond Notch road turns off to 
to the left. Up this 
road a short dis- 
tance is Frank Har- 
rington's. Room 
for twenty. Apply. 

The Diamond 
Notch House, Asa 
Crosby, Proprietor, 
is on the main road 
a few rods further, 
— about half a mile 
from the station; 
and here also is the 
post-office and a 
store. $1.50 per day. 
$6 to $8 per week. 

David Crosby's 
twenty-five. Apply. 

Mrs. Jane Smith's ' ' Sunnyside " is next. Room for twelve Apply. 

Back of these two houses rises a sharp peak in the angle between 
the Diamond Notch and the Stony Clove. It is Steeple Mountain; 
and the massive rounded crest next above it is Burnt Knob, which 
shows still the old fire scars in its rugged form. From near this. 
point the view down the clove is grand. But Stony Clove is zig-zag 
from here on and we now make a turn almost at right angles, as we 
go puffing up the hill toward Edgewood. Beyond Burnt Knob is an- 




THE DIAMOND NOTCH FROM LANESVILLE. 

Echo Cottage " is next, on the left. Room for 



136 



THE CATSKILLS. 



EDGEWOOD P. O., 
GREENE CO., N. Y 



other sharp and jag-g-ed peak, — the South Sentinel — standing- on the 
south side of a narrow and deep Hollow. Across from it is the North 
Sentinel, large and less rag-ged in form. This view impresses one 
with the g-randeur of the wilderness which here shows no mark of 
the hand of man and bears many eloquent tracing's of desolation 
wroug-ht by the elements. 

Just before reaching- Edgewood station we look down upon the 
little village from our perch up on the mountain side. Prominent 

among- the others is "Rock Acre," the moun- 
tain home of F. M. Blake of Elizabeth, N. 
J., a little wild farm with g-ood building's 
and a handsome bit of landscape g-arden just around the house. 

The train stops at the farther end of the settlement, at the en- 
trance of the g-reat cleft which makes the pass through the mountain 
rang-e. We g-o down the hill into the valley and then turn and go 
back to the villag-e. 

John Martin's is close at hand, just over the bridg-e. Room for 
twenty. Apply. 

N. A. Peet's is next, just below the Blake property. Room for 
fifteen. Apply. 

A.J.Connelly's " Edgewood House " is next. Accommodations 
for thirty. $6 to $8. 

Wm. Tracey's is opposite the church. Room for twenty. Apply. 

Chas. K. Neal's is next below Tracey's. Room for fifteen. Apply. 

"The Lotowana," J. V. Neal and Sons, is at the end of the vil- 

lag-e, about three-quarters of a mile from the station. Room for 

twenty. $6 to $8. 

All about Edg^ewood are serious evidences of the g-reat fire which 
Tag-ed here in May of last year. The Edg-ewood Mountain is badly 

burned over. Platean 

Mountain has scarce- 
ly a tree left upon its 
summit. Hunter 
Mountain and the 
Sentinels are marked 
in a most regrettable 
way. At one time 
during- the fire it was 
thoug-ht the viUag-e 
would have to burn 
too, and one house 
was actually in flames 
from flying- sparks 
NEAR EDGEWOOD LOOKING scuTH. ''''^'^^ ^he heat and 





FERRIS S HANDBOOK. 



137 



smoke made it almost impossible for any one to rema in in the 
town. 

Beyond Edg-ewood we traverse a pretty little open farm and then 
climb up into the pass. The way grows narrower, the old stage road 
coming- closer and closer, until it crosses the railroad at the heig-ht of 
land. Just before this meeting- of the ways we g-et a glimpse of the 
pretty lakelet lying- down below us to the left. Across the lake in 
the crevices of Hunter Mountain, ice may be found all summer. The 
air in the pass has a chill which is so suddenly encountered in the 
train as to be objectionable. Coming- into it slowly by the wag-on 
road it is most refreshing- on a hot day. 

As the train g-oes over the divide the view back is very charm- 
ing^, and the most beautiful of all the Stone Clove scenery, while very 
wild and pictur- 
sque. The half- 
tone but faintly 
sug-g^ests it. It 
is impossible to 
do it justice in a 
small picture. 
The narrow pass 
is quickly traver- 
sed and we come 
out into the Hun- 
ter country, as 
different as one 
can well imag-ine 
from the other 
side. Farms lie 

all about, spread up on the hills, and the wilderness, while still with 
us, is tamed by the enterprise of the ag^riculturist. A run of a mile 

or two bring-s us to the little station in the woods, Kaaterskill 

Junction. Here the Kaaterskill R. R. makes connection with the 
Stony Clove Railroad, taking- passeng-ers for Tannersville, Haines's 
Corners, the Laurel House and the Kaaterskill Hotel. 

There are several houses near by, all in the villag-e of Hunter, 
the post-office being- nearly three miles from here. It is about the 

same distance to Tannersville post-office, 
but the road lying- between the two places is 
built up, principally with boarding houses, 
for the whole six miles; with a good sprinkling- of private cottag-es. 

J. Rouff's is nearest, but a few rods from the station taking- the 
road to the left passing- under the railroad. Room for eig-hteen. 
Apply. 




IN THE STONY CLOVE NOTCH, LOOKING BACK TOWARD THE LAKE. 



HUNTER P. O., 
GREENE CO., N. Y 



138 THE CATSKILLS. 

Z. Ingraham's is on the Hunter-Tannersville road directly oppo- 
site the road leading from the station. Room for sixteen. Apply. 

Sidney Haines's is on the same road up on the hill. Turn to the 
left, — toward Hunter — at Ing-raham's. Room for twelve. Apply. 

John J. Haines's is toward the rig-ht, — toward Tannersville — 
about a mile from the station. Room for twenty. $8 and $10. 

There are several other houses near by in both directions, which 
are noted under heading's of Hunter and Tannersville respectively. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

THE GREAT CATSKILL PLATEAU. 

THE EASTERN CATSKILLS. 

THE Catskill Mountain g-roup is somewhat circular in form. 
Hig-h mountain peaks bound it on the south, the east and the 
north, rising abruptly from the lowlands. When the reg-ion 
about Hunter is reached, as described in the preceding- chapter, we 
recog-nize a different make-up from anything- seen along- the line of 
the Ulster and Delaware R. R., unless it be in the neig-hborhood of 
Stamford, and then only on a small scale. These are the Eastern 
Catskills. 

At Hunter we are in an elevated valley 1600 feet above the sea- 
level, and the streams running- west. Eastward" is the Tannersville 
country, 260 feet hig-her, and still farther eastward is the Catskill 
Mountain House 2150 feet above tide. This edg-e of the uplift then 
is the hig-her, and as we take this point for a g-eneral view, we find 
two g-reat upland valleys, the Hunter Valley, and the Windham Val- 
ley, (or basin,) lying- north of it, the latter being- a little lower than 
the former. The hig-h rang-e of mountains beg-inning- with Black 
Head on the east, and continuing with Black Dome and Thomas Cole, 
and so on down through Tower Mountain, separates these two val- 
leys. The Hunter Valley is narrower than the other, and is subdi- 
vided by the East Kill Mountain range which cuts off the East 
Jewett and Jewett Heights valley from it on the north. This latter 
valley joins the other near Lexington. 

The Windham valley is rather a broad oval basin, some six 
miles across and fifteen miles long, heading at East Windham at the 
foot of Windham High Peak. Hensonville is near the upper end of 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 139 

Ihis basin and Big- Hollow still farther up, Elm Ridg-e separating- the 
latter from the main Windham basin. Prattsville lies at the lower 
or westerly end, 1160 feet above tide. East Windham, at the head 
of it, is 1880 feet high. There is a narrow connection between these 
two valleys in the road from Lexington, (1320 feet elevation,) to 
Prattsville, following the Schoharie Creek. 

If these facts are borne in mind it will make the comprehending 
of the location of these upland villages much easier. Generally 
speaking we may regard the whole top of the uplift as a g-reat 
plateau about 1200 to 1800 feet above the level of the sea, crossed 
by mountain ranges running from east to west, and the eastern edge 
about six hundred feet higher than the western. 

Hunter is the R. R. centre for this upland region, which will 
be taken up in detail in the next chapter. The entrance from the 
lowlands through the Stony Clove has already been described. 

The other entrances are by way of the Plaaterkill Clove Road 
from West Saugerties to Tannersville; by the Kaaterskill Clove from 
Palenville to Haines Corners; by the Otis Elevating Railway from 
Otis Junction, on the Catskill Mountain Railway, to Otis Summit near 
the old Mountain House; by the Mountain House stage road; by the 
East Windham stage road from Cairo; or by the Durham and East 
Durham stage road; — these entrances are on the east and northeast, 
risings directly from the lowland country. From the south one may 
enter from Shandaken by way of the Echo Notch into Lexington at 
the lower side of the plateau, or from Grand Gorge by way of Pratts- 
ville and so on up the valley, either to Hunter or Windham, ^having 
first journeyed to Shandaken and Grand Gorge. 

Mention should also be made of the Westkill and Spruceton 
valley, from 1500 to 2000 feet high, a branch of the Hunter plateau 
opening from Lexington. A chain of very high mountains separates 
it from the Hunter valley at the upper end, but the outer range of 
mountains known as the Westkill Chain is the real boundary of the 
great plateau. For convenience in travelling directions, Westkill 
and Spruceton were included in the chapter on Shandaken, but 
belong to the eastern group. 



FINE PHOTOGRAPHS of any of the views pictured in this 
book (and many others) for sale at prices noted on back cover page. 

R. FERRIS, Artist Photographer, 



140 



THE CATSKILLS. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

HUNTER, 

HENSONVILLE AND WINDHAM ; UNION SOCIETY AND EAST WINDHAM ;: 

JEWETT AND LEXINGTON ; EAST JEWETT, BIG HOLLOW, 

JEWETT HEIGHTS, ASHLAND. 

UNTER is the present mountain terminus of the Stony Clove 
and C. M. R. R. With Lexing-ton and Prattsville lower down 
the valley, and Windham around the corner, it is safe to 
prophesy that some day the iron horse will find a new bit of his 
peculiar kind of road before him when he reaches Hunter; and " No. 




THE "WEST END" OF HUNTER. 

Post-office at the right behind the elms. The tower of the West End Hotel at the right 
among the trees, a little way down the street. 



3 " will wake new echoes of its mellow cow-bell as it ding--dang-s 
cheerily around the end of Tower Mountain and into the peaceful 
shades of Windham. 

The villag-e of Hunter has a most picturesque location. It lies 
along the Schoharie Creek on both banks, and spreads up on both 
hillsides, for the valley lacks breadth. Hunter Mountain, 4052 feet 
above the sea-level, displays its immense buttresses south of the 
villag-e, and two of these with peculiarly bold slopes, push out 



FERRIS S HANDBOOK. 



141 



toward the north almost into the town and receive the name of the 
Colonel's Chair from their resemblance to the arms of a hug-e easy 
chair. There is a g-ood trail up the "Chair" and thence to Hunter 
Mountain and the views are wonderfully fine, and within such easy 
reach that no one able to make the ascent should fail to do so. It 
will not be necsssary to urg^e this upon any one who has once stood 
upon a mountain top, for the sensation is one which is always soug-ht 
ag-ain. Your real mountain climber deligfhts to g-o up, and deplores 
the necessity of leaving- the serene heights to take up ag-ain the 
thread of humanity's life below. 

This mountain villag-e will charm any one with a likings for the 
rural. The main street for most of its length is arched over by 
great elms which meet overhead. The building's are neat and com- 
fortable, some of them ornate and handsome, and there is no 
crowding", — abundant g^rounds for all. The westernmost arm of 
the Colonel's Chair is peculiarly bold in outline and impressive in 
mass as it raises itself hig-h above the village and so close as to 
seem within arm's leng-th. It is the characteristic scenic line at 
Hunter. But Hunter Mountain, of which the chair is but a spur, 
is very g-rand, — a fact not readily appreciated unless one climbs up 
the hills north of the villag-e far enoug-h to g^ain a view of its noble 
peak. Every one who has seen the famous painting of this mountain 
by Sanford Gifford will wish to g^et this view, and at twilig^ht as he 
painted it, — the peak yet g-lowing- with the ling-ering- sunset hues, 
while the valley be- 



low is already filling- 
with the cool shad- 
ows of evening-, — a 
masterly rendition of 
one of Nature's no- 
blest effects in color. 
There is a fine view 
of the villag-e from 
its eastern end, on 
the hill back of the 
H u nt e r Mountain 
Prospect House. 
Another fine view 
may be had from 
the slopes of the 
Colonel's Chair, a t 

the western end. And another noble view of the rang-e from Platter- 
kill Mountain to Fly Mountain, nearly thirty miles, from the heig-hts 
back of the West End Hotel. 




STONY CLOVE TRAIN AT HUNTER STATION. 



142 



THE CATSKILLS. 



The railroad is on the south side of the Schoharie and passes 
HUNTER P O ^^^ villag-e stopping- at its western end. 

OREFNE CO NY Near the station, within three minutes walk 

are several houses open to boarders in the sum- 
mer which can.be pointed out from the station. 

F. Beach has room for fifteen. Apply. 

P. H. Conerty has room for twenty-five. Apply. 

Prank Conerty has room for twenty. Apply. 

Peter Hummel takes twenty-five. $7 to SIO. 

Crossing over the bridg-e into the main street we turn to the left 
io the West End Hotel, with accommodations for one hundred. 
$2.50 per day. $12 to $18 per week. 

Taking- the road at the side of the West End Hotel we find 
D. W. Bullock's house just beyond. Room for fifteen. Apply. 

L. M. Cole's is next. Room for twenty. $7 to $9. 

Mrs. C. L. Hig-g-ins is further on. Room for forty. $6 to $8. 

Turning- the other way at the corner from the station we pass up 
the street, the post-oflice being- close by on the left. At the first road 
turning- north (to the left) "Lovers' Lane" by name, we may turn 
off to C. L. Schermerhorn's Glen Farm House. Room for forty. 
$7 to $10. 

Here also is E. C. Fromer's Fernside Cottag-e, with room for 
thirty. $8 to $12. 

Across the brook is Geo. Scholderer's. Room for ten. Apply. 













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J- 


WM 


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IN HUNTER, LOOKING WESTWARD. 

" The Kaatsberg " en the left. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 143 

A short distance further, a quarter of a mile from the station, 
is the Hunter House, M. C. Van Pelt, Proprietor. Accommodations 
for two hundred and fifty. $2 to $3 per day. $10 to $17 per week. 

Next above the Hunter House is Mrs. A. Atwater's. Room for 
fifteen. $7 to $8. 

Mrs. Abram Wilcox's is next. Room for twelve. 

Willis Baldwin's is close by. Room for eight. $(> to $8. 

Mr. Robert Elliott's fine house. The Kaatsberg-, is across the 
street. The Schoharie Creek runs throug-h the grounds, which are 
spacious and well cared for, and a bathing house has been erected for 
the use of guests. Centrally located both as to Hunter and to points 
of general interest in the Catskills, the Kaatsberg presents special 
claims as a summer home. Room for one hundred. $2 per day. $8 
upward per week. 

The fine building on the left as we pass on is the Public School 
of which the residents of Hunter have the best right to be proud. 
It is one of the best graded schools in the entire region. 

Mrs. Wm. F. Greene's is just beyond the school. Room for 
twenty-five. $7 to $8. 

Wm. A. Douglass's is next, half a mile from the station. Room 
for thirty. $7 to $10. 

Mrs. N. Winchell's is next. Room for eighteen. $8. 

Miss Grace Rundell takes eight. $7 to $10. 

E. R. Myers takes thirty. $7 to $10. 

The Central House and cottages are next. Accommodations for 
one hundred and seventy-five. $2 to $3 per day. $10 to $15 per 
week. A. P. Reynolds, Proprietor. 

The "Ripley" is next, L. A. Woodworth, Proprietor. Accom- 
modations for fifty. $10 to $16. 

Across the street is A. J. Woodworth's. Room for fifteen. 

Apply. 

The Arlington is next on the same (southerly) side of the street. 
Accommodates seventy-five. $10 to $12. G. W. Shoemaker, Pro- 
prietor. 



FINE PHOTOGRAPHS of any of the views pictured in this 
book (and many others) for sale at prices noted on back cover page. 

R. FERRIS, Artist Photographer. 



144 THE CATSKILLS. 

On the corner of tlie road leading- to the upper bridge is Jas. H. 
Ford's, .one mile from the station. Room for thirty. $8 to $10. 

We turn off at this point and cross the bridg^e taking the right 
hand road at the railroad to the Alpien Cottage. A. A. Barber, 
Proprietor. Room for thirty-five. Apply. This cottage is also 
reached by a suspension foot bridge lower down the stream. 

Taking the left hand road at the railroad crossing we go to 
M. Graham's, about half a mile from the bridge. Room for twenty. 
Apply. 

S. Epstein's Grand View House is next. Room for one hundred. 
$12 to $16. 

Returning to the main street at Ford's we go on easterly, — 

toward Tannersville. 

The Hotel St. Charles (formerly the Breeze Lawn House) has a 
bold location on the hillside toward the left, its dark red color har- 
monizing richly with the bright greens of the higher hills beyond 
it, a part of the distinct and characteristic "Ford's Hill." J. H. 
Burtis, Jr., is the proprietor of the St. Charles, and accommodates 
two hundred and fifty guests. Apply for terms. 

Next beyond is the Hunter Mountain Prospect House, J. M. 
Camane, Proprietor. Accommodations for two hundred. $2.50 per 
day. $10 to $18 per week. 

The road turning toward the left beyond the grounds of the 
Prospect House leads to East Jewett and thence to Big Hollow. We 
shall return to make a flying trip to those places. For the present 
we go on toward Tannersville. 

Passing the "Columbia" which is one of those combined bowl- 
ing-alleys, refreshment saloons and souvenir depots, so common 
throughout the mountains, we reach next Sylvester Greene's house, 
" Fairview." Room for twenty-five. $7 to $10. 

The ,next house is Samuel Brown's. Here is room for twenty, 

Apply. 

Charles Quick's comes next. Room for twenty. Apply. 

Then John F. Hylan's Shady Brook Cottage, beside the brook, 
which, a few rods below forms the pretty Shady Brook Falls, to the 
right of the road. Room for twenty. Apply. 

The other two houses on this road, Sidney T. Haines's and 
Z. Ingraham's were noticed under Kaaterskill Junction. Their post- 
office address is Hunter. Beyond Ingraham's the residents go to 
Tannersville' Jpost-office and their houses will therefore be noticed 
under that title. 

Returning now to the East Jewett road let us take a trip over 
into that town, three miles away. It is quite a climb over the height 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 



145 



EAST JEWETT P. O., 
GREENE CO., N. Y. 



BIG HOLLOW P. O 
GREENE CO., N. Y 



of land between Ford's Hill and East Kill 
Mountain, but the road is g-ood and the scen- 
ery pleasing-. About half a mile up the rise 
is the country seat of Mrs. Agnes Tracy of New York City, nearly 
hidden behind a high stone wall, with a wicket gate and many other 
interesting featuies bringing strongly to mind some pictures of bits 
in Old England. As we g-ain the height and beg-in the descent into 
East Jewett there is a fine view spread before us. Across the deep 
and wide valley stand Thos. Cole, Black Dome and Black Head 
Mountains, a superb trio nearly 4000 feet high, clad in forests to 
their tops. A little further we get a view down the valley of distant 
mountains with Vinegar Hill and Vly Mountain at Lexington 
prominent. 

C. D. Simpkins's is the only house taking boarders in this place 
and it is two miles up the valley, near the foot of Black Head. 
Room for twenty-five. $6. 

Turning down the valley we take the first road leading north 
for Big Hollow which is three miles further. Here is another divide 
to be climbed. The view back toward East 
Jewett is pretty, and the scenery along the 
road interesting. In some places the road lies 
upon solid rock almost as smooth and level as a floor, and in the 
fields at the roadside great ledges push up out of the meadow grass, 

with some wild- 
wood shrubbery 
about them, mak- 
ing pretty pict- 
ures. One over- 
hanging rock at 
the side of the 
road makes a 
natural shelter 
for two wagons, 
a harrow and 
some other farm 
implements, and 
room to spare. 

LOOKING TOWARD HEN80NVILLE FROM THE EAST JEWETT ROAD. As WC gO down 

Theupper end of the Windham Basin in the middle distance. mto Big Hollow 

Mt. Richmond at the right in the distance. a Very fine view^ 

is caught over- 
looking Hensonville and Windham and the upper portion of the 
Windham basin. Mt. Pisgah, Mt. Richmond and the other peaks 
in that range stand in fine outline in the distance. 




146 



THE CATSKILLS. 




VILLAGE OF BIG HOLLOW. 



Big- Hollow is a pretty little villag-e witli a larger proportion 
of churches than one will find in many a journey. There is a Metho- 
dist church, a free Methodist church and a Presbyterian church, and 
all within the limit of a short quarter of a mile, and so far as the 
village is concerned, that is about one church to each ten houses. 

Just what is gainec 
by thus magnifying 
differences in doc 
trine which are be 
coming" every day o 
less and less impor 
tance, and whos( 
manifest destiny ii 
to disappear entireb 
as the brotherhoo( 
of man becomes ; 
reality and not ; 
theory, it is mos 
difficult to imagine 
One strong church ii 
which each migh 
be called upon t( 
sacrifice some personal peculiar ideas would serve to far greater ad 
vantage the cause which each is striving to advance. 

Wm. Crandall's is next to the Methodist church. Room for ten 
$5 to $7. 

Geo. W. Powell's is a few rods farther up the street. Room fo 
ten. $7 to $10. 

Austin B. Hitchcock's is half a mile out of the village up th 
hollow. Room for fifteen. $5. 

Geo. W. McGlashan's is half a mile further. Room for twenty 
five. Apply. 

Wm. Crandall, Jr., has room for twelve at "Glenwood." $8. 
A new road is being vigorously pushed from the head of thi 
hollow through a low notch at the foot of Black Head and so dowi 
by an easy grade to Purling. This will shorten the distance to Bi< 
Hollow by five miles, and to Hensonville and Windham by thre 
miles, over the present stage road, and in reducing the distance wil 
also reduce the fare and abolish the toll-gate on the East Windhar 
road. There is absolutely no reason in maintaining toll-gates on th 
thoroughfares of the Catskills. The small percentage of the mone 
paid by summer boarders and tourists, needed to keep the roads i; 
repair, ought to be cheerfully expended by the public, and the Lep-i« 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 



147 



> 




)OKINQ BACK TOWARD HUNTER FROM THE HENSONVILLE ROAD 

Colonel's Chair Mountain over the nearer telegraph pole ; Plateau 
Mountain over the farther pole. 



ature should be invoked to wipe out every such g"ate in this great 
)leasure reg^ion. 

Hensonville is but two miles distant from Big- Hollow, but is 
isually reached by the stag-e road from the lower end of Hunter 

village. A stag-e 
runs daily except 
Sunday to Hen- 
sonville from 
Hunter, and so 
on to Windham, 
and many teams 
belonging- to the 
different houses 
are out every day 
during- the sum- 
mer, to meet the 
various trains. 
The stage road 
g-oes up the hill 
and over the di- 
vide to the val- 
ley of the East 
K.i\\. Fine views are enjoyed from many points of outlook. 

Four miles away from Hunter we cross the hig-hway coming- 
iown from East Jewett to Lexington, and here is a post-of&ce named 
Beach's Corners and a few boarding- houses. 

B. F. Barkley at the Summit House has 
room for fifty. $6 to $8. 
Romeyn Butts takes twenty. Apply. 
J. G. Beers has room for fifty. Apply. 
H. A. Towner has room for ten. Apply. 
Chas. Frere has room for twelve. Apply. 

Jewett Heig-hts may be reached from here by driving- four miles 
iown the valley, but the usual approach is by way of the Lexing-ton 

road, turninar off up the 'hill when near 
JEWETT HEIGHTS P. O., ^"'^^' "-"^"^s ^^ ^f 

-^Dcc^.c/-r^ M V Jewett. The several houses at Jewett 

jiREENE CO., N. Y. . , , 

Heig-hts may be mentioned here. 

Emmons Pond at the Tower Mountain House accommodates 
linety. $2 per day. $7 to $12 per week. 

Georg-e H. Chase has room for fifty. $7 to $10. 

O. T. Bailey has room for forty. $7 to $10. 

From Beach's Corners we g-o on three miles over the divide 
md down ag-ain to Hensonville. Many pretty summer cottag-es are 



BEACH'S CORNERS, 
3REENE CO., N. Y. 



148 THE CATSKILLS. 

HENSONVILLE P O scattered along" the road and upon the nearer 
i-DirirKitr /^/-> ki v ' hillsldes, and thcrc IS abundant Toom fof manv 

GREENE CO., N. Y. , •' 

more. One can select a hundred admirable 
sites without leaving- the conveyance, each with a little brooklet that 
tells of a cooling- spring- hidden in some mossy nook. 

Hensonville is a flourishing- town in spite of its proximity to the 
much larg-er town of Windham. It has an independent life of its 
own, and its scenery is quite distinct from that of the other, because 
of the nearness of the hig-h mountains about the Big- Hollow basin. 
It is a favorite resort with many people who come here year after 
year. 

Lafayette Mallory's is the first boarding- house we pass as we 
enter from the Hunter road, close by the school-house. Room for 
twenty. $6 and $7. 

E. Barker also takes twenty. $6 to $8. 

C. E. Bloodg-ood has room for twenty-five. $7. 

L. W. Bloodg-ood takes thirty-five. $6 to $8. 

This bring-s us to the main street at the corner by the post-office. 
Turning- to the rig-ht, a little jog- on the left bring-s us to the road to 
Union Society, and so on to East Windham. 

O. S. Griffin's is on this corner. Room for thirty-five. Apply. 

Going- on up the main street and crossing- the bridge over the 
Kill there are two houses. Opposite the bridg-e is A. G. Holcomb's 
Central House. Room for twenty-five. Apply. 

Georg-e C. Seeley's is down the stream a few rods. Room for 
sixty. $7 to $10. The Kill is dammed here and makes a pretty pond 
for rowing-, overhung- by larg-e trees on both banks. 

Returning- now to the post-oflfice we g-o westward on the main 
street, — toward Windham. 

Linus Peck's is in the meadow near the Kill ; entrance just be- 
yond the church. Room for thirty. $6 to $8. 

Dr. S. L. Ford's is opposite to and just below the church (Metho- 
dist). Room for twenty. Apply. 

G. H. Loug-hran's is a quarter of a mile farther on toward Wind- 
ham. Room for twenty-five. Apply. 

Going- back now to the East Windham road at O. S. Griffin's 
corner let us make our way toward that breezy spot. A mile out 
from Hensonville we reach Union Society postoffice, — an odd name 
to those not familiar with it. It was g-iven originally because of a 
Union Church established here many years ag-o, supported by a so- 
ciety of church members of different denominations. There are 
some popular houses here. 

FINE PHOTOGRAPHS of any of the views pictured in this book (and many others) for sale 
at prices noted on back cover page. R. FERRIS, Artist Photographer, 

West Shokan, N. Y. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 



149 



UNION SOCIETY P. O., 
GREENE CO., N. Y. 




HENSONVILLE FROM UNION SOCIETY. 

On the East Windham road, looking south— toward Hunter. 



Georg-e A. Newcomb's is the first we 
come to. Room for sixty. $7 to $8. 

David Davis's is a little farther on. 
The post-ofi&ce is at this house. Room for one hundred. $7 to $8. 

E. Keirns is a 
short .distance 
further. Room 
for ten. Apply. 

The roads are 
excellent here and 
the ride of four 
miles from Union 
Society over to 
East Windham is 
most delightful. 
For a g-ood part 
of the way there 
is a double row of 
elms and maples 
between which 
the road lies, a 
filag-ree of sunshine and shadow. 

On the rig-ht, across the valley, is Elm Ridge, culminating- in 
Windham Hig-h Peak, 3500 feet high, at East Windham. About a 

mile before the hotels on the front of the 
mountain are reached, a road turns to the 
left crossing- the valley and up on the side 
of High Peak. Here is M. E. Sherman's High Peak House. Room 
for forty. $6 to $9. 

Ira France takes thirty. $6. 
Mrs. Mary Butts takes twenty-five. $6 to $8. 
Elias Mattier takes twenty. $6 and $7. 
Frank Folg-er takes fifteen. $6. 

There is a toll-gate just as we reach the mountain edge. The 
stag-e road to Cairo g-oes down the hill toward the left and the other 
sweeps around on the face of the mountain, two thousand feet above 
the vast plain which stretches away for miles and miles until lost in 
haze, and one cannot tell where earth ends and sky beg-ins. This is 
one of the grandest views in the region, and the surprise, as one 
rides suddenly upon it, is complete. From a foreg-round filled with, 
near-by objects, a view suddenly presents itself wholly of distance, 
and the eye is momentarily puzzled and sees nothing- for a little until 
the new conditions are comprehended. Then the wonderful scene 
begins to clear up. The village directly below us is Cornwallville ; 



EAST WINDHAM P. O 
GREENE CO., N. Y. 



150 THE CATSKILLS. 

Oak Hill, three or four miles beyond it ; East Durham off to the 
rig-ht ; Durham away to the left ; the vast mosaic of ten thousand 
square miles g-radually taking- form and position. 

Upon an absolutely clear day the Capitol at Albany can be 
located with a g-lass, the outlines of the Adirondacks discerned and 
all intermediate objects come out distinctly in relief, — a mag-nificent 
scene. 

There are three houses on this bluff road. 

The first from the toU-g-ate is A. Lamoreau's Summit House 
once more in charg-e of its former proprietor. Accommodations for 
one hundred and twenty-five. $2 per day. $8 to $12 per week. 

The Butts House, I. C. Butts, Proprietor, stands next to the 
Summit House commanding- the same g-rand view. Accommodates 
one hundred. $2 per day. $7 to $10 per week. 

The Grand View House is reached by a road leading up on to a 
commanding- knoll which projects out from the face of the mountain 
giving- an extension of the view in an easterly direction as well as 
northward. An observatory here offers still g-reater vantag-e. Ac- 
commodations for fifty. $10 to $15. 

There are several other houses on the roads below the summit. 
Geo. H. Sanford takes twenty-five. $6 to $8. 
Georg-e Bullivant takes twelve. $6. 
W. S. Smith takes thirty. $8. 
Ostrander V. Goff takes ten. $6 and $7. 

From East Windham to Cairo R. R. station is ten miles, and 
many visitors come that way on account of the lower fare and the 
shorter stag-e ride. Many g-o throug-h here on stag-es and private 
conveyances to Hensonville and Windham. To these places the 
stag-e ride is long-er than from Hunter. The stag-e to Windham takes 
the road at the top of the hill at Union Society running- down past 
W. H. Dewell's larg-e house, a mile or more out from Windham. 
Room for one hundred. $6 to $S. 

Returning- now to Hensonville for a new start we take the stag-e 
WINDHAM P O road down to Windham. Hensonville is 1650 

GREENE CO N Y ^^^^ above the sea-level, Windham 1500 feet. 
This is a ride very enjoyable in the surround- 
ing- scenery, and over an excellent road. Indeed, all the roads about 
Windham are very g-ood, a fact well appreciated by visitors who do a 
great deal of riding-. 

About a mile out of Windham we reach the very attractive 
suburb, Brooklyn. Here are several tasteful houses surrounded with 
wide and handsome lawns looking- more like a row of private resi- 
dences than boarding- houses, — and that much more enjoyable to 
their inmates, one feels sure. 



FERRIS S HANDBOOK. 



151 




BROOKLYN. APPROACHING WYNDHAM. 

Mt. Richmond back of the telegraph pole at the left ; Mt. Pisgan to the right oi the pole 

at the right. 

Elbert Osborn and Son have three houses on adjoining- lots. 
Accommodations for one hundred. $7 to $10. 

Monroe Mallory's is next. Room for twenty-five. $7 to $9. 

Ira Thompson's larg-e house is across the veay. Room for sixty. 
Apply. 

The Soper Place is next, — two houses belong-ing- to J. Soper and 
Son. Accommodations for seventy-five. Apply. 

Samuel Pelham takes twenty-five. Apply. 

Mrs. John M. Cole's is over the bridge and a little way up the 
hill. Room for forty. $6 to $8. 

Coming- into the villag-e of Windham at the upper end we come 
first to D. C. Tibbals at the corner of the road tnrning- to the rig-ht at 
Mitchell Hollow. Room for fifteen. Apply. 

J. B. France's Windham Park Place is next, as we g-o up the 
Hollow. Room for thirty. $6 to $7. 

Thos. E. Cryne's is next. Room for twenty. $6. 

Then C. Hidecker's. Room for fifty. $6. 

John Carr takes twenty-five. Apply. 

Thos. Hayden, Jr., takes twenty-five. Apply. 

H. B. Maben takes twenty. Apply. 

O. Chittenden's is the last boarding- house in the Hollow, nearly 
two miles out. Room for twenty. Apply. 



152 THE CATSKILI^S. 

Returning- to the main street we go down the hill into the 
villag-e. Mill Street turns off here. 

Jefferson Mead's is next above the mill. Room for fifteen. 
Apply. 

Mrs. A. E. West's Glen House is on Mill Street. Room for forty. 
Apply. 

Mrs. L. J. Smalling-'s also. Room for twenty. 

Mrs. M. McClean's is also on Mill Street. Room for fifteen.^ 
Apply. 

M. Carr's is on the main street agfain. Room for eight. Apply. 

H. Bag-ley's is near the bridg-e in the centre of the villag-e. 
Room for twenty. $6. 

L. W. Mott's is next the drug- store, just over the bridg-e. Room 
for eig-ht. Apply. 

G. P. Townsend's is a little farther down the street. Room for 
thirty. Apply. 

Dr. P. I. Stanley's is opposite the school building. Room for 
twenty. $7. 




LOOKING BACK TOWARD WINDHAM. 
Wm. Delamater's in the centre oi the picture ; W. H. Benjamin's at the left. 

Jacob Turk's is on the corner below. Room for twenty-five.. 
Apply. 

The road leading to the left goes up to S. L. Munson's on South 
Street. He has three houses and accommodates one hundred and 
twenty-five. $7 to $10. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 153 

O. R. Coe's Mountain Home is on the next corner. Room for 
one hundred. $5 to $8. Transient rates S2 per day. 

Mrs. G. M. Thorpe's is opposite the post-office. Room for 
twenty. $6. 

Clark Diston's is next the post-office. Room for ten. Apply. 

F. W. Rig"g"s is next. Room for fifteen. Apply. 

William Fuller farther down the street,— about a quarter of a 
mile from the post-office, — takes ten. Apply. 

D. B. Steele's is a quarter of a mile farther on. Room for fifteen. 
Apply. 

Wm. De La Mater's is opposite Steele's. Room for thirty. 
Apply. 

W. H. Benjamin's is a stone's throw beyond. Room for fifteen. 
Apply. 

From a turn in the road near this house a charming- landscape is 
seen looking- back toward Windham,— eastward. The rich bottom 
land is full of a lot of wild "stuff" which would delig-ht an artist 
with its variety of form and color, and the creek running down 
throug-h it with a wide sweep and a little rift over a low dam gives 
the foreg-round life and action. The trees beyond are artistically 
disposed and the entire natural composition altog-ether delightful 
and picturesque. 

E. Mung-er's is a few rods beyond Benjamin's. Accommodations 
for seventy. $7 to $9. 

A. P. Brewer's is a little further. Room for fifteen. Apply. 
Frank E. Bump's is next. Room for twenty. $6 and $7. 

Just below this house the road to North Settlement turns up the 
hill. At this place, which is about six miles from Windham, there 
are several houses taking- boarders. 

Arlington Frayer takes twenty. Apply. 

S. J. Osborn takes ten. Apply. 

Oscar Bronson takes forty. $5 to $7. 

Mrs. D. Richmond takes twenty. S5 to $6. 

B. Bronson takes fifteen. Apply. 

On the Javett road Addison Steele has a house with spare room 
for thirty. Apply. 

Orrin Doolittle's is up on the shoulder of Mount Pisg-ah, six 
miles away. Room for fifteen. $1 per day. $6 per week. 

Which reminds me that a word or two as to Mount Pisgah 
should not be omitted. It is a favorite and deservedly popular goal 
for riding parties because of the wonderful view it commands. 
Mount Pisgah is not a high mountain, but little over 2800 feet, but 
it stands in an isolated position on the edge of the great plateau with 
an unobstructed view toward the north over the plain as seen from 



154 



THE CATSKILLS. 




MAIN STREET IN WINDHAM. 
Coe's Hotel in the vista under the trees ; Turk's next on the left. 

Kast Windham. Toward the southeast and south are the hig-h peaks 
of Thos. Cole, Black Dome and Black Head reaching- far up above 
Elm Ridg"e with Windham Hig-h Peak nearer. Farther away are 
Kaaterskill Hig-h 'Peak, Plateau and Hunter Mountain, Big- Westkill 
and a lot of others. These are in sig-ht over a wide and broken fore- 
ground which adds to the view. Far to the northeast are the Green 
Mountains of Vermont, the White Mountains of New Hampshire and 
the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts. This g-rand view may be en- 
joyed without personal exertion, other than riding- over a fair road to 
the very summit of the mountain. There are many other pleasant 
drives all about Windham. East Windham is six miles. Red Falls, 
nine miles, down the Kill throug-h the delig-htful Pleasant Valley and 
quaint Ashland. Prattsville with the famous carved rocks, eleven 
miles. Devaseg-o Falls two miles farther. The Kaaterskill reg-ion 
is within twenty miles, a pleasant day trip. Stony Clove, twelve 
miles. 

Ashland is five miles below Windham on the Kill, which is 
called Batavia Kill on some maps but is known locally as the Big- 
Red Kill. Inasmuch as the Batavia Kill is 
in Delaware County emptying into the East 
Branch of the Delaware at Kelly's Corners, the 
name Big- Red Kill is more desirable and has the force of a local 
name, still further emphasized at Red Falls, three miles below 
Ashland. 



ASHLAND P. O., 
GREENE CO., N. Y 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 



155 



Ashland is a quaint little town, neat in appearance, and at the 
lower end of a turn in the valley which has received the local name 
of Pleasant Valley. It is indeed a "pleasant" valley and charming- 
in scenery, and has a faithful following" of regular boarders which is 
steadily increasing- in numbers as it becomes better known. 

J. O. Brezee keeps the hotel. $1 per day. $6 to $7 per week. 
Room for thirty. 

WoUaston Ferris takes twenty-five. Apply. 

T. W. Deming- takes twenty-five. $6. 

Arthur Martin takes twenty. Apply. 

James Campbell takes twenty. Apply. 

Mrs. Watson Richmond takes ten. Apply. 

Returning- now to Hunter let us take the road down the Scho- 
harie Creek to Lexington, — a fine and enjoyable drive at any time. 
The road runs down on the north side of the creek, and across it is a 
succession of hig-h mountain peaks beg-inning- with the Colonel's 
Chair, 3200 feet, which looks much hig-her being so near, — then 
Everg-reen Mountain, 3800 feet, Van Valkenburg-h Peak, 3900 feet, and 
lastly the hig-h mountain between Lexington and Westkill villag^e 
for which there seems to be no name though it is distinct in form 
and important in position, and much hig-her than some others which 
have been named. 

Approaching- the villag-e we reach the first boarding- house half 




|SHH|p?^S^™ 



MONROE HOUSE, LEXINGTON. 



156 



THE CATSKILLS. 




THE BRIDGE AT LEXINGTON. 
Kipp's Store on the left. George Moore's across the bridge on the hillside. 



LEXINGTON P. O., 
GREENE CO., N. Y. 



a mile on the hither side, the Smith House. 
Room here for thirty. Apply. 

A quarter of a mile nearer the village is 
the|larg"e house of B. O'Hara, well known for many years. Accom- 
modations for one hundred and twenty-five. $8 to $15. 

A little farther we pass the neat little Roman Catholic chapel 
erected largely through the generosity of Mr. O'Hara and his board- 
ers who are mainly of that d^omination. Religious services are 
held daily at such times in the season as a clergyman is here. 

A few rods further on is the Baptist Church. 

Mrs. R. M. Douglass's is next. Room for fifty. $7 to $9. 

Clarence Thompson's is on the cemetery road. Room for thirty. 
$6 to $8. 

H. Kipp's is opposite the bridge. Room for sixty-five. Apply. 

The Monroe House is just below the bridge on the bank of the 
Creek. Room for sixty. Apply. J. M. Valkenburgh and Son, Pro- 
prietors. 

C. L. Kipp's Crystal Lake House is a few steps further down the 
street. Room for thirty. Apply. 

Lament's Elm Tree House is nearly a mile below, near the school 
house on the road to Prattsville. Room for sixty. Apply. 

Returning now to the bridge we cross over into that part of the 
village on the southerly side of the Creek. 



FERRIS S HANDBOOK. 



157 



Georg"e Moore's faces the bridg^e on that side. Room for forty- 
five. Apply. 




THE LOWER PORTION OF THE VILLAGE OF LEXINGTON, 
From the hills opposite. Tower Mountain in the distance. 

The Lexing-ton House, kept by S. A. Van Valkenburg-h is just 
below the bridge on the bank of the Creek, — opposite the Monroe 
House on the other bank. Accommodations for fifty. $7 to $10. 

W. M. Orr's is a quarter of a mile down on this road. Room for 
twenty. Apply. 

A. J. Pettit's is half a mile further just off the main road to the 
left. Room for twenty-five. $6 to $8. 

This road is the stag-e road to Shandaken from which station 
many visitors come to Lexing-ton. The ride is a little long-er than 
from Hunter but is very interesting-, passing- throug-h the beautiful 
Bushnellville Clove and the Echo Notch. The fare, too, by this 
route is somewhat lower. 

Welcome Van Valkenburg-h's is a short distance beyond Pettitt's. 
Room for twenty. Apply. 

Georg-e H. Hasting-s is next. Room for ten. Apply. 

S. C. Chamberlain's is a mile further on the Shandaken road, 
half way between Westkill and Lexing-ton. Room for sixty. $7. 

J. H. Rorabeck and Son have a larg-e house a mile from Cham- 
berlain's, up on Beech Ridg-e. Room for fifty. $7 to $9. 

Lexington is a very popular summer resort and is g-ay with 
young- people from early in the season till quite late. The Lake, 
formed by a low dam across the creek at the lower end of the village, 



158 



THE CATSKILLS 




CRYSTAL LAKE FROM THE BRIDGE. 
Looking west. 

is a source of much pleasure. Boating is an amusement one never 
tires of, and the little expense necessary to secure it'oug-ht to be forth- 
coming- at every place of resort in the mountains. There is scarcely 
any locality where a little well directed enterprise backed by engi- 
neering- could not produce an artificial pond at an expense which 
would be trifling when considered beside the added pleasure to sum- 
mer guests. 

A descriptive sketch of Lexington is not complete without some 
reference to Vly Mountain, over 3800 feet high, which stands about 
three miles below, and west of, the village. It is one of the scenic 
features of the locality. Vinegar Hill spreads its rounded top in 
between. As to its peculiar name, the reader is referred to a Lexing- 
tonian for the story. 

CHAPTER XXXV. 

TANNERSVILLE. 



ELKA park; SCHOHARIE manor ; ONTEORA PARK. 

AS was noted in the preceding chapter, there is no distinct sepa- 
ration between Hunter and Tannersville. The two places- 
have grown toward each other along the connecting road 
until they blend into one continuous village. But the choice as to 
post-ofdce draws a line which must be adopted in this book. 



FERRIS S HANDBOOK. 



159 



The fact that most of the visitors to this point come by way of 
Catskill and the Otis Elevating- Railway would throw this chapter 
farther toward the back of the book, but its location would seem to 
demand that it be considered here. 

At Tannersville the plateau, discussed in Chapter XXXIII, is in 
evidence, the level, or approximately level, land being" about four 
miles in width, — from Elka Park on the south to Onteora Park on 
the north. This is at the head of the Plaaterkill Clove, the Kaaters- 
kill Clove also having" an influence here, but beginning" its bolder 
plung"e at Haines Corners, the division between the two being" marked 
just here by Clum Hill, which is an outpost of the Kaaterskill Hig"h 
Peak. 

The Schoharie Creek marks the lowest line in the plateau, and 
Tannersville lies on the rising" land north of it, some farming" country 
and bits of woods lying between. The site is rolling-, and the main 
street, which is macadamized, g"oes up hill and down dale, 2000 feet 
above the sea, plus or minus, in very pleasant fashion. 

The Kaaterskill R. R. runs through the town on its way from. 
Kaaterskill Junction to Otis Summit or re- 
turn, and brings visitors from both direc- 
tions; — from the Junction those who come by 
way of Kingston and Phoenicia ; from Otis Summit those who come 
by way of Catskill and the Otis Elevating" Railway. 

The station is conveniently near the centre of the town. 
Making" our way over to the main thoroughfare we pass Frank 
Eggleston's Mountain Retreat with room for fifty. $8 to $12. 



TANNERSVILLE P. O., 
GREENE CO., N. Y. 




G. N. EGGLESTON'3 CASCADE HOUSE. 



160 THE CATSKILLS. 

Nelson Campbell's is next. Room for one hundred. Apply. 

Reaching- the main street, the Hotel Sohmer is directly opposite. 
This was formerly the old Rog-g-en's Mountain Hotel. Mr. Henry 
Sohmer is now the proprietor. Room for two hundred. Apply. 
Open the year round. 

Turning to the left, — toward Hunter, we come immediately to 
G. N. Eg"gleston's Cascade House on the left, — the southerly side of 
the street, up on a little terrace. Just beyond in the rear are the 
spacious barns where the horses of guests are cared for. The house 
has accommodations for seventy, and is under the critical personal 
supervision of Mr. Egg*leston. Terms $2 per day. $8 to $10 per 
week. 

Henry Eggleston's Mountain Zephyr comes next on the same 
side of the street. Room for fifty. $8 to $10. 

Roumanow's Bakery is a landmark among cottag-es on both 
sides. 

Mrs. James Brown's Maple Grove House is next, on the north 
side. Room for fifty. Apply. 

Next is the Waverly, M. Kandel, Proprietor. $2.50 per day. 
$12 to $18 per week. Accommodations for one hundred and fifty. 

Chas. h. Ford's Pleasant View House is next, also on the north 
side. Room for one hundred and twenty-five. $2 per day. $10 per 
week. 

Miss Kate Brown's cottage is next. Room for twenty. $8 to $10. 

The Elka View House is next, on the crest of this rise. Accom- 
modates one hundred. Apply for terms to Eisenberg- and Kromfield, 
Proprietors. 

John J. Haines's Mountain View House is next. Room for 
twenty-five. Apply. 

Morris Chester's Oriental House is next. Room for sixty. $8 
to $16. 

The Fabian House, at the corner, has not been leased and may 
not be open this season. 

Returning- now to the street from the station, opposite the Hotel 
Sohmer, let us take our journey eastward, — toward Haines's Falls. 

Burgess Howard's Souvenir Store is a few rods up the street. 
Here there is a dam and a pretty pond which g-ives Mr. Howard 
the power needed for his lathes and saws and for a printing- press 
also. As Mr. Howard turns out a superior quality of fancy wood- 
work, and finishes with more than usual care, his salesroom is a 
busy place. And, being- a manufacturer, his stock doesn't g-et ex- 
hausted in variety. If you wish an unusually pretty souvenir to 
take home, remember the name, — Burgess Howard, — and the place, — 
rcxt building to the Hotel Sohmer g-rounds, on the east. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 



161 



The Tantiersville Mansion House is a few steps beyond, and 
across the street, — on the south side, — on a' little private knoll. The 




TANNERSVILLE MANSION HOUSE. 
Geo. Campbell, Proprietor. 

broad verandahs are the delig"ht of a g'oodly company who come 
early and stay late, for this house is one of the most popular in the 
place. Accommodations for one hundred and fifty. $2 per day. 
$9 to $12 per week. Geo. Campbell, Proprietor. 

Now comes a little open space opposite the stores, among- which 
the fine new building- of John F. Gray deserves special mention. 




JOHN F. GRAY'S STORE AND LIVERY. 



162 



THE CATSKILLS. 



"Within there is a very larg-e and well selected stock of the widest 
variety. Mr. Gray also conducts a well-appointed and extensive 
livery. 

A road across to Elka Park and Schoharie Manor now leaves 
the main road. On this branch road are some larg^e houses. 
Jacobsen's has room for one hundred. Apply. 
Blythewood accommodates one hundred. Apply. 
Just beyond this branch road is H. Levy's Grand Central House, 
on the south side of the street. Room for one hundred. Apply. 

Opposite, and at the corner above, the road leading- northward 
up to the hills, is the Hotel Welden, Daniel Promer, Proprietor. 
Room for fifty. $1.50 per day. $8 to $10 per week. 

Turning- off on the branch road we find Geo. Bachman's "La 

V e 1 a. " Room for 

ii'V^^^I ■/•.ji - sixty. Apply. 

Next to Bach- 
man's is L. A. 
Boens's "La Tou- 
raine." Room for 
fifty. $2 per day. 
$8 to $12 per week. 
Next is M. E. 
Francis's cottag-e. 
Room for twenty- 
iive. Apply. 

Farther up on 
this road are a num- 
ber of houses. 

James Flannagan 
takes twenty-five. 
Apply. 
$7 to $9. 




LA TOURAINE. L. A. BOENS, PROPRIETOR. 



Roe's Cottag-e accommodates twenty-five 

Matt. Moran takes twenty-five. $8. . 

Christian Ott's Washing-ton Park is away up on the hillside a 
mile from the corner on the main road at Hotel Welden. Room for 
seventy. $7 and $8. 

O. O. Flanag-an's "The Knoll" is a quarter of a mile further. 
Room for twenty-five. Apply. 



FINE PHOTOGRAPHS of any of the views pictured in this book (and manj- others) for sale 
at prices noted on back cover page. R. FERRIS, Artist Photographer, 

West Shokan, N. Y. 



FERRIS S HANDBOOK. 



163 



Returtiins: now to the main road and 



continuing- eastward 
toward Haines Fall 
we climb a sudden 
rise to John M. Fro- 
mer's Grand View. 
Room for twenty. $8 
to $10. 

Still hig-her up is 
C. Wiltse's house 
"The American," 
frequented by g-uests 
of refined and quiet 
tastes for whom Mr. 
Wiltse makes an en- 
joyable summer 
home. A boarding- 
and livery stable is an adjunct to the establishment from which car- 
riag-es are furnished for church attendance to the guests on Sundays. 
Room for fifty. $7 to $10. 




M. E. FRANCIS'S COTTAGE. 




THE AMERICAN. C. A. WILTSE, Proprietor. 



L. L. Woodard's " Woodard House" is next beyond Mr. 
Wiltse's. The eng-raving- does not give a fair idea of the house 
which extends back to g-ive comfortable accommodations for forty. 
$7 to $10. 

A little farther on, across the street, is Wm. Mulford's "Clover 
Cottage." Room for twenty. Apply. 



164 



THE CATSKILLS. 




L. L. WOODARD'S HOUSE. 



Mrs. S. S. Mulford's Mountain Summit House is on the crest of 

this hill. Accommo- 
dations for two hun- 
dred. Apply. This 
house is a long- half 
mile from the sta- 
tion. 

On the other side 
is E. H. Layman's 
" M a p 1 e w o o d . " 
Room for thirty-five. 
Apply. 

Next is Mrs. H. A. 
Layman's. Room 
for fifty. Apply. 
From here on there 
is a fine bit of woodland road about a quarter of a mile before we 
come to the first house in the Haines Falls section. Many small 
houses have been necessarily omitted for want of space, and these 
are equally as desirable to some visitors as the larger ones. A brief 
list follows so that they may be addressed by mail by those who pre- 
fer to be in a smaller company than will be found at the larger board- 
ing" houses and hotels. 
Near the station are 

Kzra's B. Howards ; room for twenty. Apply. 
Dr. Georg-e Haner's ; room for twenty-five. Apply. 
A, S. Haines's ; room for twenty-five. $7 and $8. 
Menzo Sharpe's ; room for ten. Apply. 
C. G. Wagoner's ; room for ten. Apply. 
Farther away, from a quarter to half a mile will be found 
Wm. Worden's ; room for thirty ; $7 to $10. 
Isaac Showers's ; room for eig^ht. Apply. 
Rufus Showers has room for fifteen. Apply. 
Mrs. E. Shewmaker takes thirty. Apply. 
F. C. Post takes twenty-five. $8 to $10. 
Wm. Grimm takes fifteen. 87. 
Thos. Dunbar takes twenty. Apply. 
A. M. Wiltse takes twenty. $8 to $10. 

Still farther away, — from half a mile to a mile from the station 
are these : 

Miss Lucy Craig- takes eig-hteen. Apply. 
E. M. Haines takes twenty. Apply. 
Daniel Shevlin takes fifteen. Apply. 
Mrs. J. F. Rogers takes ten. Apply. 



FERRIS S HANDBOOK. 



165 



M. O'Hara takes twenty-five. $8. 

Mrs. Hiram Roe takes twenty. Apply. 

Georg-e Showers takes twelve. Apply. 

C. H. Leg-g-'s "Upland" is up on the hill north of the Mountain 
Summit House, two miles from the station. Room for forty. Apply. 

Let us g-lance now at the parks over on the southern slopes. 

Elka Park, the older of the two, has now upwards of twenty 
cottag-es scattered over the roomy tract belonging to the Association, 
near enough together for all social pleasures and yet with abundant 
g"rounds to secure all the comforts of a separate and private estate. 
The Association is formed principally by members of the Liederkranz 
of New York, from whose name the two letters L K were taken to give 
the park its striking and expressive name. 




SCHOHARIE MANSION. 

The marked success of Elka Park led to the starting of a new 
one, Schoharie Manor, a few years ago, by Mr. Paul Goepel, of New 
York, the originator of the former. Schoharie Manor is a Cottag-e 
Club which owns five hundred acres of land adjacent to Elka Park, 
elegantly located on the gentler slopes of " Spruce-Top," a turreted 
spur of Plateau Mountain reaching- out into the valley so as to com- 



166 



THE CATSKILLS. 



mand superb views in all directions. The Association has built a 
splendid Club House called Schoharie Mansion, which is acknowl- 
edged to be the finest specimen of modern Colonial Architecture in 
the State, and is up-to-date with its sanitary sewerag-e, electric bells 
and g-as-lig^hting-. Cottage sites are being- sold to members of the 
Association only, in order to control the tract, and keep it confined 
to a limited number of refined families. The elevation of the tract, — 
2200 feet above the sea, — and its location on a slope toward the 
north, ensures the best of atmospheric conditions, and next year will 
doubtless see many roofs lifted up among- the handsome tree-tops. 
From Tannersville the stately roof of the Mansion is a conspicuous 
object with its three flagfs flying- ag-ainst the dark backg-round of the 
forest-clad dome of Mink Mountain. 

Journeying- eastward over the heig-ht of land in Platterkill Clove 

we reach Thomas 
Seifferth's house, 
three miles from the 
Tannersville station. 
Room for fifty. 

Three miles fur- 
ther on is the Plat- 
terkill Falls House, 
H. V. Leaycraft, 
Room for sixty. $7 
to $10 per week. 

The other park at 
Tannersville is On- 
teora Park over on 
the hills north of the 
town. The g-rounds comprise a tract which spreads over the Onteora 
Mountain, an elevation some three hundred feet above the Tanners- 
ville Plateau and commanding- a g-rand view of the entire rang-e of 
peaks from Platterkill Mountain on the east to the Colonel's Chair 
at Hunter, with the nearer local mountains. The Club House bears 
the olden-time title of " The Bear and Fox Inn," and there are many 
pretty cottag-es owned by persons of wealth and refinement scattered 
about the domain. 




THOS. seifferth's HOUSE. 



FINE PHOTOGRAPHS of any of the views pictured in this 
book (and many others) for sale at prices noted on back cover pag-e. 

R. FERRIS, Artist Photographer. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 167 

CHAPTER XXXVI. 

HAINES' CORNERS. 

This old-time summer resort has put on so many modern appear- 
ances that it would hardly be recognized by a visitor who had not 
seen it for ten or twelve years. But the grand clove is there as of 
old untouchable by the hand of man and we look down through the 
ranks of forest covered slopes to the lowlands, and away out over 
them to the Hudson, and far beyond the Hudson to where the Berk- 
shire Hills mark out a horizon line against the sky. There isn't any 
other clove in all the mountains approaching the old Kaaterskill 
Clove in beauty. Something it has which is absent in others, so that 
Haines' Corners has become a perennial resort. People have not 
been content to visit and view its loveliness but have desired to live 
within its influences, and hence have sprung several cottage asso- 
ciations. Twilight Park, Santa Crus Park, Sunset Park, and private 
cottages beside. Here we are at the edge of the great plateau, 2000 
feet above the sea, at the head of the world-famous Haines' Falls a- 
plunge of 160 feet, with a further fall of about 1200 feet in four miles 
before reaching Palenville at the foot of the Clove, so that there are 
cascades and rapids, each one beautiful, all the way down. Nearly 
two miles down the Kaaterskill Creek enters from the noted Kaaters- 
kill Falls, at the Laurel House. The Parks are on the southerly side 
of the Clove and reach up on the slopes and ledges of Round Top,^ 
commanding delightful views. The post ofBce name here is Haines' 

Falls, the railroad name Haines' Corners. 
HAINES- FALLS P. o., ^.g.^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ locality from both direc- 
GREENE CO., N. Y. ^.^^^ ^^^ usually from Catskill by the Cats- 

kill Mountain Railway and the Otis Elevating Railway and finally 
the Kaaterskill R. R. The Kaaterskill trains also bring many who 
have come by way of Kingston and the Ulster and Delaware R. R. 
and the Stony Clove R. R. 

Close by the station is the Hallenbeck House at the angle of the 
road from Tannersville and the road to the Laurel House. Three 
streams unite just above the bridge forming a fine pond, and a pretty 
cascade is formed by the overflow. This house is central to one of 
the most interesting localities in the Catskill region, within walking 
distance of most of the noted scenic attractions and the great hotels. 
The rooms are large and airy, and every effort used to secure com- 
fort to guests. Accomodations for forty-five. This house is open 



168 



THE CATSKILLS. 







THE HALLENBECK HOUSE. 



the year round and provided with steam heat when the weather 
makes it desirable. A g"ood livery is an adjunct, very useful to the 
g-uests. W. I. Hallenbeck, Proprietor. Apply for terms. 

Taking- the road at the side of the Hallenbeck, up along the 
pond, we may turn to the left at the school-house corner, a few rods 
down to Mrs. John O'Hara's Shady Grove. Room for forty. Apply. 

On the Tannersville road a quarter of a mile from Hallenbeck's 
is the Mascotte, a new house. Room for forty. Apply. 

Crossing the bridge, to the right, at the school house, we take 
the first road to the left to Owen Glennon's Glen Park House. Room 
for one hundred. $8 to $12. 

Keeping on the main road easterly, a few rods away is "The 
Antlers," E. M. Butler, Proprietor. Accommodations for one hun- 
dred and fifty. Apply for booklet and terms. 

A quarter of a mile further is J. E. Haines'. Room for twenty. 
Apply. 

Half a mile farther on is the " Gem of the Catskills," kept for so 
many seasons by Nelson T. Scribner. Mrs. E. Pfendler is in charge 
this year. Room for fifty. $10 per week. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 169 

« 

A few rods further a road branching- to the right (southerly) 
leads to the Laurel House Station, and the Laurel House. See next 
chapter. Half a mile further another road turns to the south leading 
to Scribner's, and thence to the Hotel Kaaterskill, also noticed in 
next chapter. 

Returning- now to the corner at the Hallenbeck House, there is 
the Central House, Geo. W. Reed, Proprietor, almost opposite. 
Room for sixty-five. Apply. 

S. P. Scott's is a little way over the track, past the station. 
Room for fifty. $8 to $10. 

A few rods further is Loxhurst, S. E. Rusk, Proprietor. Room 
for sixty. $10. 

E. E. Pelham's "Kenwood" is a little way beyond, half a mile 
from the station. Room for fifty. $8 to $12. 

The Haines' Falls House is next, on the bluff at the head of the 
falls. Accommodations for ninety. $8 to $10. 

At Twilig-ht Park are the Twilig-ht Club House, Ledg-e End Inn 
and Squirrel Inn, all under the manag-ement of Chas. F. Wing-ate. 
About four hundred g-uests may be accommodated. $10 to $15 per 
■week. 

At Santa Cruz Park is the Santa Cruz Lodg-e. Room for fifty. 

Apply. ... ! 

Other houses at or near Haines Falls are in this list : 
Mrs. M. J. Haines takes twenty-five. Apply. 
Samuel S. Haines takes twenty-five. Apply. 
Peter Haines takes twenty. $8 to $10. 
Mrs. James Haines takes twelve. Apply. 

D. Edwards takes fifteen. Apply. 
Richard Haines takes twenty. Apply. 

E. Adams, near the Laurel House, takes eig-ht. Apply. 

CHAPTIiR XXXVII. 

THE MOUNTAIN HOUSES. 

■CATSKILL MOUNTAIN HOUSE, LAUREL HOUSE, HOTEL KAATERSKILL. 

The Catskill Mountain House is the oldest hotel in the region, 
having entered upon its prosperous career in 1823, so that this is its 
seventy-fourth year. Of course, the present stately building is not 
the one originally erected. The site of the " Old Mountain House," 
as it is often called, is still the favorite with a multitude of visitors, 
.and it has its peculiar charm. Its approach from the rear, bringing 



170 THE CATSKILLS. 



the wide and far-reaching- lowland view suddenly before the specta- 
tor adds to its wonderful attractiveness, and for these reasons it will 
never lose its power to draw thousands to stand in silent admiration 
of a world-famed panorama. But the site of the house is not the 
only outlook. The cliffs and ledg-es of both North and South Moun- 
tains lying respectively north and south of the hotel afford other and 
very remarkable views to those who visit them. The beautiful lakes 
covering- 26 and 33 acres respectively are within ten minutes walk of 
the hotel and in themselves are natural curiosities lying over 2000 
feet above the sea-level. In the mountains also are concealed glens, 
springs, cascades (in seasons not too dry) and many odd formations 
of rock and tree, which make the locality a treasure house of the 
wild and grand. 

The Catskill Mountain Mountain House accommodates four hun- 
dred guests. Terms $14 to $21 per week. Post-office address is 
Catskill, N. Y. 

The Laurel House was started but a few years later than the old 
Mountain House, in a location as different as it were possible to 
select. In an unbroken bit of forest, at the head of the beautiful 




THE LAUREL HOUSE. 

Kaaterskill Falls, the inspiration of poets and painters for half a 
century and more, with an outlook into a great woodland amphi- 
theatre with trees in endless ranks and tiers and no distant view 
evcept the sky by day and the stars by night ; this lovely spot has 
too its distinctive charm, and no one has ever spent a day there but 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 171 

Tiis heart will leap at the mention of its name alone, — The Laurel 
House. 

The Kaaterskill is the outlet of the North and South Lakes, and 
receives beside some other waters. In the spring- when water is 
plenty, it is a lusty stream and leaps grandly off from the rocky slide 
down into the shallow pool at the foot of the plung-e one hundred and 
eig-hty feet. Here in the wide basin it gathers its spray into liquid 
again and jumps once more into the pile of great rocks eighty feet 
below. During- the summer when the volume of the brook is much 
reduced, provision is made to dam up a large supply of water, which 
is let loose in sufficient quantity from time to time, so that the visitor 
in the dry season may enjoy the sight as well as in that season when 
brooks are gladdest and merriest. A favorite spot from which to 
view the falls is Prospect Rock about 500 yards away on the opposite 
side of the ravine. Safe stairs and steps are built down to the foot 
of the falls so that the magnificent plunge can be witnessed from 
below. It is possible also to pass back of the upper fall, and a path 
leads down the ravine into the Kaaterskill Clove about a mile below 
Haines Fall at the head of that Clove. Sunset Rock is another point 
of great interest, a short mile from the hotel. It is the top of a 
precipice high above the bottom of the ravine, and commands a 
majestic view of the mountains opposite from base to summit, an 
unbroken spread of forest. Toward the west the view opens over 
Haines Falls country and so onward to the horizon. When the sun- 
set glow lights the sky and plays over the nearer mountains, and the 
deep blue shadows of evening gather in the abyss of the Clove at 
one's feet, the effect is sublime beyond description. 

The Laurel House accommodates two hundred and fifty. For 
terms apply to A. Christian, Haines Falls P. O., N. Y. 

The third hotel in this locality is the Hotel Kaaterskill, the 
largest mountain hotel in the world. This is a newer house than 
either of the others, and twice as large as the other two combined. 
It stands grandly on the crest of Kaaterskill Mountain which joins 
South Mountain on the south, a monument to the energy and enter- 
prise of Geo. Harding, Esq., of Philadelphia. The story of its build- 
ing reads like a fairy tale. "In September, 1880, the site of this 
mammoth building was a forest of scrubby trees fighting- with the 
rocky top of the mountain for bare existence. Seven hundred men 
were set at work, and all through the winter, intensely bitter at that 
altitude, they wrestled with the wildest of Nature's works in her 
wildest and savagest moods, conquering every obstacle, so that in the 
following July the immense building was open to guests, surrounded 
by a handsome park in a magnificent estate of over 12,000 acres 
of land, throughout which drives and walks had been laid out, farms 



172 THE CATSKILLS 

established to supply dairy and g-arden products and fresh fruit, and 
the whole perfected under the personal supervision of Mr. Harding-. 
It is quite within the bounds of truth to say that this feat has- 
never been equalled, the world around. The scenic attractions at 
the Hotel Kaaterskill are too numerous to mention, — as the boy said 
about the leg-s of the centipede. The grand view is different from 
that at the Old Mountain House, not quite so extended toward the 
south, being- cut off by the slope of Kaaterskill Hig-h Peak, which in 
itself is a g-rand feature, reaching- 4000 feet into the air and clad with 
a superb forest. It is hard to choose between the views, — and quite 
unnecessary, for the Mountain House is but fifteen minutes walk 
distant, so that both may be enjoyed without fatig-ue. The Laurel 
House and the Kaaterskill Falls are only a mile away, and the 
Kaaterskill Clove with its many and varied natural beauties is within 
two miles, usually visited with the aid of a team, but well within 
the powers of the enthusiastic. South Lake has been rechristened 
Kaaterskill Lake, and the fascinations of boating- are added to other 
out-door enjoyments. 

The Hotel Kaaterskill accommodates twelve hundred g-uests. 
Terms $21 per week and upwards. Post-office address, Kaaterskill^ 
Greene Co., N. Y. 

CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

THE CATSKILL LOWLANDS, 

THE CATSKILL MOUNTAIN RAILWAY AND THE OTIS ELEVATING 

RAILWAY. 

UNDER this title we may g-roup the many summer resorts in the 
territory lying- between the Hudson River and the Catskill 
Mountains. It is a rolling plain with ridges running north 
and south and from eight miles to twenty in width from the river back 
to the slopes of the mountains. Speaking generally, it rises gradually 
from a few feet above the river to 600 or 700 feet above it near the 
mountains, so that none of it can be called high. But there are thou- 
sands upon thousands of visitors all over this tract every season, who 
reap great benefit from their brief stay ; and, as before remarked, this 
should be evidence enough to confirm the statement that elevation 
need not be considered as an important factor in seeking refreshing 
in the Catskills. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 173- 

This section is reached through the villag^e of Catskill as a land- 
ing" place for the various river boats and a station on the West Shore 
R. R. Thence the Catskill Mountain Railway carries many passen- 
g-ers to the various points of interest and resort, althoug"h the stage 
lines still find plenty of customers. 

Following- our plan of using- the railroads we shall go from point 
to point as may be reached most expeditiously from the several sta- 
tions. The reg-ion is extremely interesting not only for its own nat- 
ural beauties, but the g-reat mountains which are always in grand 
review from any point, add a fascinating background. The roads are 
g-ood, in the main, and driving is a favorite form of amusement. 
The many brooks, ponds, cascades and picturesque building-s make 
beautiful landscape pictures which never tire those fond of rural 
scenes. 

The Catskill Mountain Railway is a narrow g-auge road, the 
main line running- from Catskill to Palenville, and a branch from 
Cairo Junction to Cairo. At Otis Junction, between Lawrenceville 
and Palenville it connects with the Otis Elevating- Railway, an in- 
cline seven thousand feet long- by which a height of sixteen hundred 
feet is overcome ; the time required for the trip being- only ten min- 
utes, — a saving- of over an hour by the former stag-e line. The Otis- 
road was not planned by an artist, so it is not pretty to look at, and 
many impatient words are spoken over the scar it makes on the sub- 
lime slopes by those who feel the marring- of former beauty. But it 
" g-ets there," and that seems to be the main idea in these latter days 
of hustle. The sensation as one rises from the plain is very peculiar. 
The distant landscape seems to rise as we g-o up, the horizon line ex- 
tending farther and farther as the point of view is raised. It is 
doubtless easier on the horses, but the pleasure part of the ride up 
the mountain is missing-. And whether one looks up or down the 
thing- it is an eyesore, and a serious blot upon the famous view from 
the old Mountain House. 

CHAPTER XXXIX. 

CATSKILL, PALENVILLE AND CAIRO 

AND ADJACENT RESORTS. 



THE village of Catskill has become very important as a point of 
transfer, a large conting-ent of summer travel passing- throug-h 
it by rail and from the steamers. The Day Line connects with 
the trains on the Catskill Mountain Railway for points on the low- 



174 THE CATSKILLS. 

lands and also on the top of the mountain. There is also a nig-ht 
line of steamers from New York to Catskill whose passeng-ers take 
the early trains, or stages, to various points. This is the most econ- 
omical in money, but consumes more time. The West Shore Rail- 
road runs throug-h the villag-e, also bring-ing- many of the visitors. 

Catskill villag-e has also become a resort, being- pleasantly located 
CATSKILL P O with interesting- scenery about and amid hand- 

GREENECo". N.' Y. some views. 

The Rappelyea House (C. C. Rappleyea) 
has room for fifty ; within 100 yards of the station. $2 per day. $8 
per week. 

Close by is the Smith House. Accommodations for seventy-five. 
$2.50 per day. $8 upward per week. W. M. Smith, Proprietor. 

J. L. Yates's is a quarter of a mile away. Room for fifteen. 
Apply. 

Frank Olmstead takes twenty. $6. 

The Hotel Irving- accommodates one hundred. $2 to $3 per day. 
Special rates by the week. Georg-e H. Anderson, Proprietor. 

J. H. Van Gelder's Cherry Hill House has room for thirty-five. 
$6 to $8. 

S. Holcomb, at the Jefferson House, has room for forty. 

The Grant House, half a mile away, on Jefferson Heig-hts, accom- 
modates three hundred. $3 per day. $10 to $20 per week. Grant & 
Cornell, Proprietors. Geo D. Sears, Manag-er. 

The Prospect Park Hotel, a well known landmark to those who 
travel on the River will re-open the first of June under the manag-e- 
ment of J. S. Brig-g-s. Room for three hundred and fifty. Apply for 
terms. 

The Summit Hill House, a mile away, accommodates three 
hundred. $1.50 per day. $7 to $10 per week. 

Gay's Hotel accommodates seventy-five. $7 to $12. Gay & Sons, 
Proprietors. 

Jefferson Cottag-e (Wm. Prindle), takes twenty-five. $5 and $6. 

Grove House (J. h Goltermann), takes thirty. $5 to $7. 

John E. Overbaugh takes seventy-five. $6 to $10. 

D. D. Van Valkenburg-h takes twenty-five. $6 to $9. 

Mrs. Horace Barker takes twenty. $6. 

Ralph P. Barker takes thirty. $6 to $10. 

Frank Van Dyke takes fifteen. $6 to $8. 

L. E. Tuttle takes thirty-five. $6. 

Geo. W. Goetchius takes twenty. $6. 

Mrs. Douglas Van Dyke takes twenty. $8 to $10. 

Mrs. Philip Plusch takes one hundred at the "Swiss Home," a 
mile and a half from the station. $7 to $12. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 175 

Andrew Parsons takes fifty. $7 to $12. 

Wm. H. Jackson takes thirty. Apply. 

M. Lauria has room for one hundred at the " Salisbury House." 
$6 to $8. 

C. E. Covell, at Pleasant View Farm, three miles out, takes 
thirty. $6. 

The Glenwood Hotel, five miles away from the station is a fav- 
orite resort with many. Accommodations for two hundred. $8 to 
$10. V. Bramson, Proprietor. 

Kiskatom is about seven miles from Catskill toward Palenville, 
and being- so much nearer the mountains commands .more impressive 
KISKATOM P O. views of them. It is reached by conveyances 

GREENE CO N Y from Catskill Landings or West Shore station,, 
also from Lawrenceville station on the Catskill 
Mountain Railway, about two miles away. The country about is 
pretty, and it is a favorite place for spending- a vacation. 

David Bloom takes seventy. $7 to $10. 

Frederick Saxe takes forty. $7 to $8. 

Mrs. G. W. Fisher takes forty. $6 to $8. 

M. K. Lasher takes thirty. $6. 

Herbert Lasher takes thirty. $6. 

Peter N. Mower takes thirty. $6. 

Geo. W. Winans takes thirty. $6 and $7. 

J. C. Rider takes fifty. $10. 

L. Overbaugh takes twenty. $6. 

Leeds is four miles from Catskill on the Catskill Mountain Rail- 
way, but is as often reached by private stages from the several 
LEEDS p o houses, most of them making no charge for 

GREENE go' N Y ^^^^ service. An inquiry when writing, as to 
this matter will make it plain. Some make no 
charge for conveyance to the house, but only when returning. A 
regular stage runs daily except Sunday. Fare 50 cents. 

M. A. Vedder takes forty. $6 and $7. 

Uriah Harris takes twenty. $5 and $6. 

J. M. Day takes sixty at the Green Lake House. $6 to $8. 

J. Sterritt at Green Lake Farm takes twenty-five. $6. 

Jacob Phister takes sixty at the Bethel Ridg-e House. $6. 

George Bedeau takes seventy. $6. 

Mrs. L. M. Bloom takes twenty. $6. 

Joseph McGiffert & Sons accommodate one hundred and twenty 
at Green Lake Homestead, on the shore of Green Lake, which is a 
handsome lakelet one mile long, and affording- delightful boating. 
$6 to $8. 

H. M. Hankinson takes twenty-five. $6 to $7. 



176 THE CATSKILLS. 

Wm. Cunningham takes twenty. $6. 
J. W. Cunning-ham takes fifteen. $8 to $10. 
W. G. Wolcott takes twenty. Apply. 
J. P. Stewart takes fifteen. Apply. 

Some houses whose post-office is Leeds, are nearer the Cairo 
Junction station. 

A. M. Stewart takes twenty-five. $6. 
Frank Winans takes twenty. Apply. 
Mrs. Chas. A. Vedder takes twenty-five. $8 to $10. 

PAI^ENVILLE. 

The next station on the C. M. Ry., reserving- South Cairo for the 
present, is Lawrenceville, four miles from Palenville, but the few 
PALENVILLE P O houses there g-et their mail at Palenville 

GREENE COUNTY N Y post-office SO they may all be noticed under 

the one section. These houses will be 
found nearer to the Lawrenceville station : 

F. W. Brandow's is just across the road from the station. Room 
for twenty. Apply. 

W. H. Bog-ardus, a few rods away, has room for twenty. Apply. 
D. L. Winter takes twenty-five. Apply. 

G. H. Austin takes twenty. Apply. 
Edward Peters takes fifteen. Apply 

From Lawrenceville the train makes a rapid run to the station 
on the outskirts of Palenville. The Otis Junction is reached a short 
mile before we g-et to Palenville. The old Mountain House is in full 
view most of the distance, and one never g-rows weary of looking- up 
at it serenely perched on the very edge of the cliffs 

Palenville occupies a delightful location at the foot of the Kaa- 
terskill Clove, down which there is a movement of air which is very 
refreshing on a hot day. The Clove itself is full of points of inter- 
est in the way of cliffs and chasms, cascades and waterfalls, places of 
outlook, etc. It has been for years the resort of famous artists who 
have created a school of American art by their faithful rendering of 
American scenery and the scenery of the Catskills, has become widely 
known through their works, not alone in this country, but in Europe 
also. This fact is mentioned to show the scenic advantages of Palen- 
ville which have been thus endorsed by these men best fitted to ap- 
preciate its beauties. More than a thousand people come to this little 
village each year to spend their summer vacation. 

"The Winchelsea" (A. J. Teale) is the nearest to the station, 
five minutes walk. There are two houses here, accommodating sixty. 
Apply. 

Opposite the next corner is the post-office, then next to that the 



178 THE CATSKILLS. 

Hotel Richmond with room for one hundred and fifty. H. W. Gor- 
don, Proprietor. 

C. Goodwin's Central House is opposite the Hotel Richmond, a 
long- quarter of a mile from the station. Room for forty-five. $7 
to $10. 

Cornelius DuBois's Pine Grove House is next above the Rich- 
mond on the bank of the Kaaterskill. Room for seventy-five. $10 
to $12. 

The road turning" north just here g"oes to Cairo and Purling" by 
way of Pelham's Corners, where the Mountain House road crosses it, 
and througfh Lawrenceville. The distance is about ten miles, — g"Ood 
measure. 

Mrs. Anna Hill's cottag-e is near this corner. Room for fifteen. 
$8 to $10. 

Nelson Garrison's is further on up the Clove. Room for thirty- 
five. $7 to 8. 

P. H. Scribner's "Sunny Slope" is a long quarter mile farther 
up ; a mile from the station. Room for fifty. $7 to $12. 

Mrs. E. Burg"er's is a quarter of a mile beyond Scribner's across 
the bridg"e. Room for fifteen. Apply. 

Following" down the other side of the stream we come to E. E« 
Goodwin's, half a mile nearer the station. Room for forty. Apply. 

Charles A. Stewart's Centennial Cottag"e is just opposite. Room 
for thirty. $6 and $7. 

Isaac Manning-'s is here also. Room for forty. Apply. 

W. A. Goodwin takes twenty. Apply. 

Farther down the street is the Arling"ton, with accommodations 
for seventy. $7 to $10. A. Timmerman, Proprietor. 

Returning" now to the station we take the "Turnpike" toward 
Catskill. The first road to the left leads to Cairo, and on this road 
just beyond the school-house, is Philo Peck's Maple Grove House 
with its spacious g"rounds and beautiful trees. Room for one hun- 
dred. $8 to $10. 

Georg"e Wynkoop's is just around the turn, facing" the bridg"e. 
Room for seventy-five. Apply. 

The road leading" to the rig"ht from the corner on the turnpike 
goes to Saugerties, West Saugerties, or Woodstock, as one may 
choose. 

Dr. C. H. Chubb's "Ingleside" is a few yards down this road. 
Room for twenty-five guests. $7 to $10 per week. 

H. M. Dederick's " Drummond's Falls House" is a quarter of a 
mile beyond, near these fine falls (on the Kaaterskill). Room for 
seventy-five. $7 to $12. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 179 

Eug-ene Abeel's Etna Cottag-e is here also. Room for twenty- 
five. Apply. 

Returning- to the turnpike where we left it at the corners, we find 
D. T. Lennon's a little way on toward Catskill. Room for twenty- 
five. $8 to $12. 

W. E. Haines's is half a mile further. Room for twenty. $6 
to $8. 

Mrs. M. Kraus's is opposite Haines's. Room for fifty. $8 to $10. 

The villag-e of Saxton is two miles from Palenville station on the 

c.Axx-,-«K, p, r^ road to Saug-erties about a mile beyond Drum- 

SAXTON P. O., , ,^ r i , 

iiic-rcD o/-. M V mond's Palls. There are a few houses here 

receiving- boarders m summer. 

Mrs. J. E. O'Bryan takes twenty. 86. 

Myer Cohen takes thirty-five. Apply. 

H. Van Gaasbeck has room for fifty at the "Westmoreland." 
$6 to $. 

West Saug-erties is making- steady progress as a summer resort. 
It is pleasantly located at the foot of the Plaaterkill Clove which is 

lA/cc-r QAiinPRxiPQ P n ^ very fine ravine, only less interesting- 
WEST SAUGERTIES P. O., , . ^^ , . -n Ai o i i • 

... ^^^„^^ ^, „ than the Kaaterskill Clove. Schoharie 

ULSTER CO., N. Y. ,^ . , . r -i r inr ^ o „ 

Manor is but four miles from West Sau- 
g-erties up the Clove, and Saug-erties is about seven miles away. 
This short route to the Tannersville country will certainly be made 
use of within a short time, and the little villag-e now so quiet will be 
g-ay with passing- teams. There are some fine natural features in 
this clove, and the landscape views are g-rand. 

Fred. Mott takes twenty. Apply. 

Mrs. C. Connell takes twenty-five. Apply. 

John Yeager takes twenty. Apply. 

John Schuchs takes twenty. Apply. 

We may now take South Cairo, passed over in speaking- of Cairo 
Junction. The railroad trains stop a g-ood half-mile from the villag-e 
and swing around to a rig-ht ang-le to g-o to Palenville. The villag-e 
is a pretty one in a vale throug-h which runs the Catskill Creek, and 
it is well liked by a larg-e number of people who go there reg-ularly 
year after year. 

As we enter the villag-e from the station we come first to Watson 

^ Jump's Scotch Rock House. Room for thirty. 

SOUTH CAIRO P. O., ^ 

rsRFENE CO N Y -^PP J* 

., . . ^^^ post-office is next, door, and opposite 

is Mrs. C. L. Bassett's. Room for forty. $6 to $8. 

Georg-e Duncan's is next door to Mrs. Bassett's. Room for 
seventy. $6 to $8. 



180 



THE CATSKILLS. 




CATSKILL CRtEK HOUSE, SOUTH CAIRO. 
A. P. White, Propr etor 

Across the street is the hotel, the Malaeska House. Accommo- 
dations for one hundred. $1.50 per daj. $6 and S7 a week. G. B. 
Holcomb, Proprietor. 

The Catskill Creek House is at the other end of the villaj^e near 
the bridg-e, and the g-rounds extend along- the bank of the Catskill 
Creek. It is one mile from the station, from which guests are 
brought free of charge in the carriages belonging to the hotel, — 
with which a liverj is connected. There is a large and well shaded 
lawn with summer houses and swings, and croquet and tennis 
grounds, and the table is generously supplied with the best of fruit, 
vegetables and milk. Accommodations for fifty. $5 to $7 a week. 
A. P. White, Proprietor. 

O. A. Barlow's is next above White's. Room for sixty. $6. 

Mrs. E. Winne takes forty-five. Apply. 

Ira D. Vail's is a mile farther on. Room for thirty. Apply. 

Mrs. Wm. Earle's is out on the Gayhead road two miles from the 
station. Room for twenty-five. $5 to $7. 

Ira Finch is next to Mrs Earle's Room for thirty. Apply. 

M. F. Losee's is a mile further out toward Gayhead Room for 
thirty. S5 and S6. 

Phil Haines' Indian Ridge House is over on the Indian Ridge 
across the Creek, about five miles from the station. Room for forty- 
five. $5 to S7. 



FERRIS S HANDBOOK. 



181 



South Cairo is seven miles from Catskill and is reached by stage 
or private conveyances, as well as by rail. 

Cairo is three miles farther by stag-e, over five miles by rail, and 
may be reached either way from Catskill. 

CAIRO. 

Cairo is a thrifty-looking- villag-e spread over quite a little terri- 
tory and yet compactly built for a country town. It is about twelve 
miles directly west of Athens and some 600 feet above the sea-level. 
There are not many boarders taken in the villag-e, but at Purling- 
(The Forg-e) a mile away, a g-reat multitude g^oes every season. But 
Cairo is a distributing- point and the depot yard is a mass of convey- 
ances about train time waiting- to carry the throng- by hundreds. 
Stag-es run from here to various points which will be noticed in their 
order. 




WALTERS'S HOTEL, CAIRO. N. Y. 

From the station we enter the main street in Cairo at Walters's 
Hotel, A. L. & F. G. Walters, Proprietors. This rural hostelry 
stands near to, and yet a little back from the main street, its broad 
piazza decorated with drapery of drooping- vines, a pretty and at- 
tractive exterior. Its homelike roof shelters over one hundred g-uests 
on demand, and it is often taxed to the uttermost to make all com- 



182 THE CATSKILLS. 

fortable. Rates $2 per day. $6 to $10 per week. The eng-raving- 
was made three years agfo and does not g"ive an idea of the vines as 
they are at present. 

Turning- to the rig-ht on the main street past the hotel we go 
northward to a fork, the left hand road leading- to Acra, South Dur- 
ham, East Windham and so on to Windham, the rig-ht road leading- 
to Gayhead, Freehold and Greenville. 

On the latter road we reach H. B. Hoose's first, scarcely out of 
the villag-e. Room for thirty. $5. 

A little way beyond, the Freehold road turns off over the "White 
Bridg-e," so called because painted white. Keeping lon the Gayhead 
road we come shortly to A. Kliitz's " German Retreat." Room for 
forty. $6 to $8. 

Next beyond is Alec. Jerome's. Room for thirty. $6 to $8. 

Benj. Iliffe's is a mile away on the Sandy Plains road. Room 
for twenty. Apply. 

Returning- now to the fork we take the Windham road. Cross- 
ing- the bridg-e we come quickly to Chichester's Hotel, and Livery 
across the street. Accommodations for sixty. Apply. 

G. A. Mudg-e's is opposite the Fair Grounds, a little way up the 
hill. Room for twenty-five. $6. 

Mrs. A. White's is opposite the entrance to the Fair Grounds. 
Room for fifteen. Apply. 

Mrs. S. McMann's is a little farther, on the crest of the hill 
commanding- a fine view. Room for twenty. Apply. 

G. M. Rivenberg^'s Grand View Cottag-e is just beyond. Room 
for twenty. $6 to $8. 

Mrs. MacDonoug-h's Mountain View Cottag-e is a mile further. 
Room for eig-ht. Apply. 

Returning- to Walter's Hotel we may g-o the other way, — south- 
easterly, — down the main street. D. W. Jenning-s' Hotel is a few 
steps away. Room for one hundred. $2 per day. $7 to $10 a week. 

On the street which leads away from Jenning-s, and just opposite 
is'S. H. nine's. Room for one hundred. $7 to $10. 

Following- the main street out of the villag-e it becomes the 
Catskill turnpike, and just before reaching- the R. R. crossing we 
come to John A. Mower's. Room for forty. $6 to $7. 

A. S. Rouse's is just beyond the crossing-. Room for fifteen. 
Apply. 

Taking- the road to Purling-, which turns to the rig-ht just below 

PURLING P O ^^^ Jenning-s Hotel, we come to St. Elmo Park 

GREENE CO NY ^ little more than half a mile away. Room for 

one hundred. $7 to $10. Thos. Low, Proprietor. 

Here there is a fork in the road; the left hand leads to Palenville, 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK. 



183 




BECKWITH HOUSE, PURLING. 

the rig-ht hand on to Purling-. Most of the houses here g"et their mail 
now at this new office, but some still send to Cairo, and these will be 
noted as they are mentioned. 

Entering- Purling- we come first upon Georg-e Dederick's Ever- 
green Grove House. Room for one hundred. $7 and $8. 

Chas. Dederick's Central View is next, the grounds being all 
open between and the whole expanse given over to guests. Room 
for fifty. $7 and $8. 

Chas. Paddock's is across the street. Room for fifteen. $6 
and $7. 

Warren D. Smith at the Arlington has room for twenty-five. 
Apply. 

The Anderson House is at the next corner. It is a new house, 
this being its sixth season. It is located on high ground at the 
centre of the village with streets on three sides of it so that all 
rooms are front rooms. Broad piazzas run around the building. 
The house is intended for families and others seeking a homelike 
resting place. The table is generously supplied with all the delica- 
cies of the season, and pure mountain spring water only is used. 
A livery is run in connection with the house. Terms $6 to $8. 
Children under eight years, half price. Accommodations for fifty. 
Address J. H. Anderson, Purling, N. Y. 

Z. Beckwith's is next to and across the Palenville road from the 
Anderson House. It is built on a little bluff, with spacious grounds 



184 THE CATSKILLS. 

about and a grove of pines in the rear, and commands a fine view of 
the rang-e of the Catskills for many miles. Spring- water is provided 
on every floor. Accommodations for sixty. Apply for terms. 

J. H. Stoddard's is a little way further on toward the bridg-e 
over the Shing^lekill. Room for seventy-five. 17 to $9. 

Crossing- the bridg^e we come to the larg-est souvenir works in 
the reg-ion. Eig-ht skilled turners are constantly employed desig-ning- 
and turning- native woods into tasteful forms to be carried home by 
visitors as souvenirs of their tarrying- awhile in this mountain forest. 
C. Whitcomb, who keeps the store and post-office a few steps farther 
up the street is the proprietor. 

Fred. Goodwin's is opposite Whitcomb's store. Room for forty. 
% to $8. 

C. C. Lock's Round Top View House is down the Palenville road 
half a mile from the Anderson House. It is near the Cairo Round 
Top, a pyramidal mountain detached from the rang-e and stand- 
ing- three miles from the others out in the lowlands. It is not 
hig-h as compared with the main group, but conspicuous from its 
isolated position. Room for forty. $6 to $8. Cairo P. O. 

Mrs. W. Salisbury takes ten. $6. 

G. P. Acker, at the falls, takes thirty. $7. 

Half a mile out from the villag-e is J. P. Dean, with room for 
fifteen at his farm house. $6. 

A mile out are these: — 

Columbia Hotel (H. K. Lyon). Room for one hundred and 
fifty. $8 to $10. 

Adelbert Lennon takes sixty. $8. 

Wm. J. Lennon takes twenty. $6 to $8. 

S. Merritt Jones takes sixty at the Round Top Farm House. $(> 
to no. Cairo P. O. 

A. W. Craw takes fifty. $6 and $7. Cairo P. O. 

Mrs. L. J. Chatterdon takes twenty. $6. 

H. C. Story takes forty. $5 to $8. Cairo P. O. 

Harrison Jones takes sixty. $6 to $8. Cairo P. O. 

Charles S. Johnson takes sixty. $6. Cairo P. O. 

Several houses are two miles distant. 

F. E. Miller takes forty. $6 to $8. 

C. M. Lennon takes forty. $6. 

Mrs. W. S. Lennon takes twenty. $6. 

Joseph Richards takes thirty-five. $6 to $8. Cairo P. O. 

J. S. Cochrane takes twenty-five. $5 to $7. 

J. B. Edg-erly takes thirty. $5 to $7. Cairo P. O. 

J. B. Richards takes twenty. $5 and $6. 

John H. Titus takes twenty-five. Apply. 



FERRIS S HANDBOOK. 



185 



L. H. Garrison takes fifty. $6 to $8. 

A. J. Lock, at the Maple Lawn House on the foot-hills, four miles 
from Cairo station, has two cottag-es beside the main house. Room 




for one hundred and fifty. $6 to $10. Cairo P. O. 

John Boice has room for thirty. $6. Cairo P. O. 
Shubal Finch takes twenty-five. $6. Cairo P. O. 



186 THE CATSKII.I,S. 

H. B. Whitcomb's Winter Clove House is four miles from Pur- 
ling- on a plateau where the Winter Clove comes down. Here an ele- 
vation of nearly 1300 feet is secured and the views are fine and far 
reaching-. The grounds are extensive and the mountains close by 
with many pleasant rambles amid the trees and ledges. This local- 
ity is peculiarly free from dews owing to its position. The purest of 
mountain-spring water is conducted to the house and the table is 
abundantly supplied from the home farm. Rates $2 to $2.50 per day. 
^8 to $12 a week. Special rates for June and September. References 
required from persons not known to the proprietor. Accommodations 
for one hundred and twenty-five. 

Mrs. J. P. Warner's is five miles from Cairo station on the moun- 
tain side. Room for twenty-five. $6. Cairo P. O. 

Returning now to Cairo let us look at some of the more distant 
resorts reached by the stage lines. 

One line runs to Prattsville, 25 miles away, passing through 
ACRA P O several villages. For Acra, three miles away, 

GREENE CO N Y ^^^^e are three stages daily during the season, 
excepting on Sunday. Fare 50 cents. 

At this place are several houses taking- boarders. Elevation 
about 750 feet 

N. B. Shaw takes twenty-five. $6. 

Mrs. M. W. Fiero takes fifteen. Apply. 

Mrs. A. Costello takes forty. $6. 

O. S. Allen takes thirty. $5 to $7. 

James Taylor takes twenty. $5 and $6. 

J. P. Lennon takes twenty-five. $6. 

A. Schermerhorn takes twenty. $6. 

John Stead takes thirty-five. $6. 

G. W. Cartwright takes forty. Apply. 

Orvin Carman takes twenty. $6. 

Georg-e Meddag-h takes twenty-five. $6, 

N. H. Noble takes ten. Apply. 

Next beyond Acra is South Durham three miles further. In this 
distance we climb about two hundred feet higher reaching an eleva- 
tion of 950 feet. Stage fare 75 cents. 

SOUTH DURHAM P. O. ^' ^'- Wagner keeps the Cold Spring^ 

GREENE CO N Y. Hotel. Room for thirty-five. $1.50 per 

day. $6 to $9 per week. 

Henry Bogardus keeps the Maple Grove House. Room for 
twenty. $6. 

L. H. Stone keeps the Grove Side Cottage. Room for seventy- 
five. $6. 

G. A. Sanford takes twenty-five. $6. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK 187 

Georg-e L. Chenele takes eig-hty at " Shannondale." $6 to $8. 

J. V. Hulse takes sixty. $5 to $8. 

J. E. Francis takes twenty. $6. 

From South Durham the stage climbs the mountain to East 
Windham four miles away and from there three miles farther to 
Union Society ; one mile farther to Hensonville ; two miles more to 
Windham ; five miles more to Ashland ; four miles f ai ther to Pratts- 
ville. See Chapters XXVII and XXXIV. 

Another stag-e goes to Preston Hollow, seventeen miles away, 
passing- through Freehold, which has some boarding houses, five 
miles out from Cairo. 

P. J Curtis keeps the Clinton Farm House. 

GREENE CO N Y. ^^^^^ ^""'^ twenty. $5 and $6. 

Mrs. Isabella Feeney takes twenty. $7 to $8* 

M. H. Becker takes fifty. $6 to $8. 

Joseph Earl takes fifty. $7 to $10. 

J. B. Simmons takes twenty-five. $6. 

C. E. Van Norman keeps the hotel, — Lacy Hall. Accommoda- 
tions for seventy-five. $2 per day. $10 per week. 

John A. Parks takes thirty-five. $6 to $8. 

Frank Woodard takes fifteen. $6. 

Levi Seabridg-e takes thirty. $5 and $6. 

J. E Vincent takes thirty. $6 to $8. 

T. J. Slater takes forty. $5 to $7. 

C. L. Smith takes twenty. $5 and $6. 

Van Buren Powell takes fifteen. $5 and $6. 

Mrs. E. J. Smith takes twenty. $5 and $6 

Albertus Becker takes twenty-five. $6. 

Mrs. C. Antus takes twenty. $5. 

De Alanson Haight takes twenty-five. |5 and $6. 

V. R. Russell takes twenty. $5. 

The stage, two miles farther, passes through East Durham, also 
a well known summer resort. 

Mrs. Geo. Osterhoudt, at Edgewood Falls, has room for sixty. 

EAST DURHAM P. O.. ^^ ^^^^- ^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^ ^^ ^^^^^^ 

GREENE CO.. N. Y. j^^^i p^^^ $6 and $7. 

William A. Winans takes twenty. $6. 

M. Paddock takes thirty. $6. 

C. A. Schermerhorn takes twenty. $5 and $6. 

A. Van Tassell takes thirty at The Villa. $7. 

O. J. Murta takes fifteen. $6 and $7. , 

Mrs. F. C. Pennie takes fifteen. $6, 

C. H. Furry takes twenty. $6. 



188 THE CATSKII.LS. 

Mrs. John W. Brooks takes sixty at Forest Echo. $6 and $7. 

A. I. Mackey takes twenty at Mt. Airy Farm. $6. 

D. H. Mackey takes twelve. $5. 

George Hedges takes thirty-five at his farm. $6. 

Henry C. Mace takes twenty. $6. 

S. M. Houg-h takes thirty at Maple Shade. $6. 

E. E. Nelson takes twenty. $6. 

Wm. C. White takes seventy at Locust Shade. $6 and $7. 
Mrs. J. M. Fanning- has room for twenty. $6 and $7. 
Mrs. E. L. Woodruff takes twenty-five. $5 and $6. 
John Steele takes ten at Zephyr Falls. Apply. 
Five miles beyond East Durham the stagfe passes throug-h Oak 
Hill, another resort. 

HILL p o Chas. Wrig-ht takes ten at Locust Shade. 

GREENE Co!. n! Y. $5 and $6. . , , 

W. H. Mulberry takes thirty. 16 and.|7. 
Niles Gifford takes twenty-five $5 to $7. 
Mrs. L. White takes thirty. $5 to $7. 

B. C. De Witt takes twenty-five. $7 to $10. 
Mrs. Delia Graham takes twenty-five. $7. 

Two miles from Oak Hill we reach Durham, fourteen miles from 
Cairo. Here are a few boarding--houses. 
DURHAM P. O., Horace Mabey takes twenty. $6. 

GREENE CO N Y J. H. Burhans takes thirty. $6. 

■' ■ ' Mrs. F. J. Hurlburt takes fifty. $6. 

Georg-e Pratt takes ten at Sug-ar Grove Mountain House. $6. 

Sidney Crandall takes forty. $6 to $8. 

E. D. Elliott takes sixty at Shady Glen. $6 to $8. 

Mrs. M. Byboom takes twenty. $5 to $8. 

From here the stag-e goes on to Cooksburgh, Potters Hollow and 
Preston Hollow. Board can be obtained at these places though there 
are no houses where the matter of summer boarding is taken up as a 
business. ' 

At Cornwallville, three miles beyond South Durham, are several 
houses which should not be overlooked. 

CORNWALLVILLE P O ^- ^^^^^ & ^on take forty at the 

GREENE CO., N. Y.' "' Meadow Brook House. $6. 

Parks Bros, takes forty. |5 to $7. 
^ Mrs. John Smith takes twenty-five. $7. 

Rachel Setford takes twenty. $5. 

L. H. Setford takes twenty. $5. 

J. W. Proper takes twenty. $5. 

C. Wetmore has room for twenty. $6. 

Mrs. O. W. Austin has room for twenty. $5. 
Piatt Hill takes twenty-five. $5 and $6. 



FERRIS'S HANDBOOK 189 

Wm. V. Snyder takes fifteen. $6. 

Mrs. P. E. Strong- takes ten. $5. 

Arthur Drace takes ten at Brookside. $5. 

Ellsworth Strong- takes fifteen. $6. 

Mrs. J. M. Lawrence takes ten. $6. 

At Gayhead, which is four miles north of Cairo and the same 
distance east of Freehold, there are a number of boarding-houses, — 
some larg-e ones. 

GAYHEAD P O "^^^^ ^' '^^^^'^^ takes twenty-five. $5. 

GREENE CO. N.' Y "^ ' ^' ^^^^^^ takes thirty. $6 to $8. 

W. H. Lake takes ten. $6. 

R. W. Allerton takes twenty-five. $5. 

Mrs. J. B. Hallock takes twenty-five. $5 and $6. 

C. H. Wilkins takes forty. $5 and $6. 

Cyrus S. Powell takes ten. $6. 

Lester Hallock takes twenty-five at The Ethel. $6. 

Daniel Feeney keeps the Pine Grove House. Room for one hun- 
dred. $6 to $8. 

Mrs. J. Hallenbeck takes twenty. $5. 

There are a few houses open to summer boarders at Greenville, 
GREENVILLE p o three miles beyond Gayhead, seven miles from 

GREENE CO., N. Y. ^^.iro. 

Mrs. S E. Whitford takes fifteen. $6. 

V. R. Powell takes fifteen. $6 to $7. 

Griffin Shaw takes fifty at Mountain View. $6 to $8. 

Mrs. Wm. Irving- takes thirty at Shady Lawn. $5. 

Norton Hill is another resort in this section, about three miles 
westerly from Greenville, nine miles from Cairo. 

NORTON HILL P. O., W"^' ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^""^^ ^^ ^'^^^ 

GREENE CO., N. Y. ^'^^- ^^\ . • . o 

J. W. Gardner takes eight at Sunnyside. 

$5 and 6. 

A. Moore takes twenty at Mercedes Farm. Apply. 

John Yeomans takes twenty-five. $5 and $6. 

G. A. Cunningham takes twenty at Cherry Hill. $5. 

David Griffin takes twelve at Mountain View. $5. 

G. A. Morrison takes twenty. $6 and $7. 

M. Cameron takes twenty-five at Maple Grove. $5. 

Sunside is two miles northerly from Acra and two miles easterly 

^..K,r.,r^,r r, /^ from South Durham. 

SUNS DE P. O., ^ ^ ,^ ,, . i ^rx o^ 

__ ' ^ Geo. C, Mott takes fifteen $7. 

GREENE CO., N.Y. • ^^ . 1 ^r. *. 

Wm. Kennicutt takes fifteen. $6. 

W. J. Potter takes ten at Elm Shade. $6. 

Wm. D Mott takes fifty at Sunside Farm. $6 to $8. 

E. H. Utter takes twenty at Hillside Farm. $5 to $6. 



^ FOR SALE 

LAKE AIOSKAWASTING 

AND SURROUNDING WOODLANDS. 



500 ACRES OF WATER, 

North Lake^ at the Catskill Mountain House, covers but 33 acres* 
Kaaterskill Lake covers only 28 acres. 

2,000 FEET ABOVE THE SEA 

(Two hundred feet higher than the Catskill Lakes.) 

On Top of the Shawang:unk Mountains 

Adjoining the grounds of the hotels at Lake Minnewaska, and but three 

miles distant. The Lake is two miles long and 

half a mile wide and has 

FIVE MILES OF SHORE LINE 

available for cottages and hotels. Surrounded by 

5,000 ACRES OF WOODLAND 

Which is full of natural curiosities, ravines, clefts, caverns, water- 
falls and cascades, cliffs and ledg-es. The tract abounds 
in fine timber and building- stone. Will be 
sold entire or in sections. 

For further particulars address : 

R. FERRIS, 

I \A/EST SMOkCAINi. IM. Y. 



R. W. Anderson & Son, Printers, Kingston, N. Y. 









Fine Photographs 

"Umt mnDscnrE woe n TOinLTi- 

VIEWS AND GROUPS, 

EXTERIORS AND INTERIORS, 

TEAMS AND TURNOUTS 



. MADE TO ORDER 



All the views iu tins book sive from })ljotoffraplis which cau be supplie* 

at the following rates : 

Small Size, 5 inches by 7 inches, 

or 5 inches by 8 inches, - - 25 cts. each 

Medium Size, 7 inches by 9 inches, 

or 7 inches by lo'^ inches, - 50 cts. each 

Large Size, n inches by 14 inches, ... $1.00 each 

These sizes give the size of the picture. The cards are larger. If t 

be sent by mail, enclose 4 cents iu stamjis for small size, 8 

cents for medium size, 15 cents for large size. 



SAT/SFACT/OrJ GUARANTEED. 



D FrR 1^ I S /^R'l'IST PHOTOC.PAPMIlR. 

WEST SHOKAN. N. Y. 



t 



